Uni’s James Dargaville takes on West Harbour and the wet conditions during the Students 41-3 win
Photo: seiserphotography.com

by NSW Rugby –

Sydney University has cemented second place on the Shute Shield ladder after recording a 41-3 home victory over West Harbour yesterday.

Two first-half tries gave the Students a 14-3 half-time advantage and, with the rain refusing to relent, a muddy puddle began to engulf the centre of the oval.  But it did nothing to help the sea-faring Pirates, who struggled in the slippery conditions, leaking a further four tries and sliding three places on the Shute Shield ladder.

In other matches, Warringah stole a win against Gordon at Pittwater Park, Easts stayed strong to defeat Penrith at Nepean Oval and Eastwood retained top spot with a 21-8 victory over Norths.

In this week’s ABC TV match, the Manly Marlins were just too good for Randwick, winning 23 to 5, and Souths showed their skill defeating Parramatta 60 to 14.

Sydney University v West Harbour

A soggy Oval No. 1 played host to a match that saw almost as many yellow cards as tries.  A total of six players were sent to the sin bin in a match secured by the home side, who successfully defied the wet conditions to exploit their wide game, running in four second half tries.

Said Students’ fullback Tom Kingston, “We spoke a lot during the week about wanting to control the ball and get it wide and test them.

“We saw second grade do really well in the wet so we gave it a crack and did alright, putting up 40 points.”

With three of his players sent to the sin bin, a disappointed West Harbour captain Reg De Jager said afterwards, “We’ve been focusing on discipline and we’ve got better match by match.  But tempers flared there, it went both ways as yellow cards went to both sides.”

Although the Pirates were quick to put points on the board through a Jack Debreczeni penalty, they were unable to prevent the Students hitting back, conceding two tries in quick succession through Tom Boidin and then James Willan.

Camped on the Students’ 5m line, the Pirates’ continued pressure resulted in a yellow card to Uni prop Paddy Ryan but no points. It was the same story later in the first period, when Students’ lock Will Skelton saw yellow.  Although a strong scrum after the half-time siren saw the Pirates cross the line, a knock on in the tackle ended the try scoring opportunity, and left the visitors chasing a half-time deficit of 14-3.

The 11-point difference was soon blown out in the second period after the Pirates’ continued handling errors gifted the Students counter attack ball and led them to find the tryline a further four times. Tom Kingston and Tom Carter displayed their Super Rugby talent, making several downfield breaks to set up scoring opportunities, as well as crossing for their own tries.

A yellow card to the Pirates resulted in a penalty try for the Students taking the score to 21-3 with 30 minutes to go.

Two further cards, one apiece, preceded a final Uni try through James Dargaville.  Uni’s runaway 41-3 victory puts them four competition points clear of third-placed Southern Districts.

Sydney University 41 (Tom Boidin, James Willan, Tom Kingston, Tom Carter, James Dargaville, penalty try tries; Stuart Dunbar 2 cons, pen, Daniel Kelly 2 cons) d West Harbour 3 (Jack Debreczeni pen) at Sydney Uni. Oval 1. Referee Matt O’Brien.

Eastwood’s Ben Batger breaks the line – Photo: seiserphotography.com

Northern Suburbs v Eastwood

Eastwood have retained top spot on the table, courtesy of a 21-8 victory over Norths. Although leading the match at times, the Shoremen struggled with the conditions in the second half, allowing the Woodies to cross the line and bag yet another win.

Eastwood 21 (Jared Barry, Jimmy Hilgendorf tries; Ben Batger con, 2 pens, Pierre Hola pen) d Northern Suburbs 8 (Corey Brown tries; Corey Brown pen) at North Sydney Oval. Referee William Houston.

*******

Warringah v Gordon

After a strong start by Warringah, the Highlanders were quick to hit back, taking the lead with three first-half tries. However, their poor discipline late in the game allowed the Rats’ Dave Harvey to convert four penalties in 10 minutes to win the match by one point, 24 to 23.

Warringah 24 (Ben Adams, Brad Dixon tries; David Harvey con, 4 pens) d Gordon 23 (Gordon Broome, Mark Preston, Lucas Simkin tries; Terry Preston con, 2 pens) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Referee Ian Smith.

*******

Penrith v Eastern Suburbs

Eastern Suburbs have secured a comfortable win over Penrith, running in five tries including a hat-trick for fullback Damon Anderson, to move up to sixth place overalll.  Penrith crossed twice through centre Henry Lilomaiava and prop Peter Niumata.

Eastern Suburbs 35 (Damon Anderson 3, Pauliasi Taumoepeau, Thomasl Mathers tries; Henry Hudson 5 cons) d Penrith 10 (Henry Lilomaimau, Iosua Tonga tries) at Nepean Rugby Park. Referee Jamie McGregor.

Randwick danger man Terrence Hepetema on the run (Randwick wore pink jerseys for Ladies Day that were auctioned off for charity after the match) – Photo: seiserphotography.com

Randwick v Manly

Manly proved too strong for Randwick, earning a bonus point 23-5 and rising one place to fourth on the table with a committed performance. The Galloping Greens struggled against a strong Marlins side, who outplayed them around the park, with their only points coming from a last-minute try through centre Tom Connor.

Manly 23 (Kitoni Ale, Fabian Natoli, Jacob Woodhouse 2 tries; Tom Chesters pen) d Randwick 5 (Tom Connor try) at Coogee Oval. Referee Richard Goswell

*******

Southern Districts v Parramatta

After the disappointment of losing 26-30 to West Harbour, Southern Districts hit back, smashing the Two Blues by 60 to 14 to jump up one place on the ladder to third overall. The Rebels were quick off the mark and didn’t let up, crossing the line nine times, including doubles from NSW duo Lopeti Timani and Ben Volavola, and lock Luke Smart. Although a couple of defensive lapses allowed the Two Blues to cross through Jesse Leota and Mika Polota-Nau, the result was never in doubt.

Southern Districts 60 (Luke Smart 2, Lopeti Timani 2, Ben Volavola 2, Alex Gibbon, Oleni Ngungutau, Rohan Saifoloi tries; Rohan Saifoloi 6 cons, pen) d Parramatta 14 (Jesse Leota, Mika Polota Nau tries; Dan Rawaqa 2 cons) at Forshaw Rugby Oval. Referee Edward Martin.