Uni speedster Greg Jeloudev pins back the ears – Photo: seiserphotography.com

by Paul Cook –

Sydney University have backed up their fine performance against Northern Suburbs last weekend with an equally gritty and determined effort to down previously unbeaten Southern Districts, 18-13 at Forshaw Park. Billed as a Grand Final rematch, the game had much of the same intensity as last year’s title decider but not quite as much polish, as brutal defence and sheer physicality won the day.

The Rebels came into the game keen to avenge that agonising 1pt loss at Concord Oval last September but struggled to make much headway as a fired up Uni simply swamped their opponent’s attack with a litany of big hits. It finished two tries apiece but the boot of replacement Byron Hodge, who completed 150 minutes of football after a full game in 2nd grade, proved to be the difference as the visitors held on for a tight but extremely gratifying win.

They also did it without the services of influential captain Tim Davidson for 10 minutes after he was sent to the bin at a crucial point in the contest and despite eventually conceding a try in that period, their success in holding out a 5 metre scrum on their own goal line left Uni head coach Chris Malone glowing afterwards.

“The character of the team was the most pleasing thing today,” he said. “Under the pump with fourteen men and a seven man scrum on our own line, that was the real test of us and the boys stood up. It’s pleasing to come here and win, we know there’s a long, long way to go in the comp but we needed to win to stay in touch with the top five.”

Rebels’ skipper Jono Hayes put in a good shift for the losing side – Photo: seiserphotography.com

Waratahs centre Tom Carter was also thrilledd with Uni’s defensive effort. “The one thing we pride ourselves on is defence and I think this group is finally starting to get it. It’s about sacrificing for each other and working hard. Against Southern Districts, when they’ve got Benny Volavola, Apo [Latunipulu], Rohan [Saifoloi], Lopeti [Timani] and Grayson [Hart], you’re going to miss tackles but it’s about covering for your mate and I think we did that pretty effectively for seventy odd minutes.”

He also stressed the importance of victory in the context of Uni’s ladder position. “I think Eastwood and Southern Districts are definitely the top two teams and then you’ve got Manly and Norths. We’re fourth or fifth and that’s probably a reflection of our season, we’re struggling a little bit with a lack of depth but there’s no excuses when you put on the Sydney Uni jersey. Every win at this time of the year helps you at the back end of the season so it’s really pleasing to come down here and get a good job done.”

It was a predictably fierce opening quarter, neither side taking a backwards step but with the Students in particular testing Souths’ desire to get involved in a bash-fest. The result was a game played for the most part between the 22’s and notable more for defensive structures and bell-ringing hits than any potential try scoring opportunities.

Rohan Saifoloi broke the stalemate with a 22nd minute penalty but Byron Hodge, on after only 10 minutes to replace injured lock Sam Jeffries, took over kicking duties and leveled a few minutes later.

There was a lack of any significant space for either backline to work some magic, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying and on those rare occasions when open field was available, both sides put some width into their game and went through the hands.

One such break saw Michael Hodge streak through to the edge of the Souths’ 22 but with options either side, he chose to plough a lone furrow instead and a chance for the opener went begging. However, it didn’t take long for Uni to construct another opportunity and this one was more in keeping with their recent traditions, prop Sam Talakai burrowin over from within a metre after some good work from Liam Winton.

Byron Hodge converted and when gun centre Apo Latunipulu left the field not long after with an injury, the home side appeared to be facing an uphill task. However, coach Cam Blades has bred some fire in the belly of his young charges and the try seemed to spark them into life.

A mazy run by the elusive Safoloi in the opposition red zone had Uni’s controlled defence suddenly scrambling and when the ball was recycled, a succession of neat hands released Alex Gibbon into the corner.

Young Uni scrumhalf Jake Gordon is finding his feet in 1st grade – Photo: seiserphotography.com

Down 10-8 at the break, the Rebels missed a chance to retake the lead early in the second half when a Safoloi penalty came back off the post and when Byron Hodge had no such difficulties five minutes later after the Rebels were pinged for offside, momentum swung back into the visitor’s favour.

They confirmed that ascendancy when a Souths mistake then led to what proved to be the match winning try. The mercurial Ben Volavola, capable of anything when he’s in the mood, was perhaps guilty of overplaying his hand on this occasion as a loose pass out of the back of his hand went astray and was kicked ahead by Michael Hodge.

Oleni Ngungutau tried to retrieve the situation but was quickly swamped by the pace and desire of the chasing Students and Tom Carter assessed the possibilities quicker than anyone to unleash the pace of Greg Jeloudev down the line and away.

It was a pivotal moment of the game but Souths coach Cam Blades was philosophical in reflection. “We pride ourselves on playing a little bit of expansive rugby but I do emphasise to the guys that there is a time and a place and we don’t need to take those massive risks. Sometimes those little things come off that win you the game, we’ve just got to pick and choose the times to do them. Today it didn’t come off but we’ll live and learn.”

Davidson’s yellow card set up a grandstand finish as Souths looked for a response but spent too much time trying to find a gap around the fringes instead of concentrating their efforts on the newly weakened Uni scrum.

An acrobatic Gibbon eventually dived for the corner to notch his second and make it 18-13 but Saifoloi couldn’t narrow the gap any further with a tough kick out wide and Uni defended magnificently until their captain returned before sticking it up their jumpers to ground out the closing minutes.

Cam Blades saw the result as another step in this young Rebels outfits’ learning curve. “Uni haven’t won seven of the last eight titles without being a clinical rugby side and I keep saying we will be challengers to them once we can play the style of game we like to play clinically for 80 minutes. We’re still developing, we’re still in a learning phase and today was another good lesson in how to win a game.”

Sydney University 18 (Sam Talakai, Greg Jeloudev tries, Byron Hodge con, 2 pens) d Southern Districts 13 (Alex Gibbon 2 tries, Rohan Saifoloi pen) at Forshaw Park. Referee Angus Gardner.