Tom Kingston was a constant menace on attack for Sydney University in atrocious conditions. Photo: seiserphotography.com

by Brendan Bradford –

If there’s one team that strives on playing in a constant downpour on a sodden mid-winter pitch in ten degree weather, it’s Sydney University.

The Students proved as much on Saturday as they powered past West Harbour with a six-try-to-none, 41-3 victory in terrible conditions at University Oval. Leading 14-3 at halftime, the home side scored four tries in the second forty as a valiant Pirates side just couldn’t stay with the reigning premiers in a hard fought arm wrestle that saw a whopping six players sent to the sin bin.

“To win 41-3 is just a good all-round performance,” said Uni coach Chris Malone.

“There was some inconsistency and poor discipline but winning with a bonus point puts a bit of space between first and second and the rest of the competition. We tried to play with a bit of width in the first half and ultimately in conditions like this you do have to pick and go, but considering the weather, some of it wasn’t too bad to watch.”

With a bustling forward pack, West Harbour were right in the match at halftime, but fell off the pace as the conditions and yellow cards took their toll.

James Dargaville scored a great second half try
Photo: seiserphotography.com

“The weather was probably not conducive to our young charges – we like to run the ball a bit – but having said that, we dropped the ball over the line on halftime and it could’ve been 14-8 and a different ball game,” said coach Matt Briggs.

“But I’m very proud of our effort and we won’t face a better pack than that – on paper at least – this year. I think we more than held our own at scrum-time and were physical. They’ve got some classy players but a different day with different conditions and maybe we’d get a different result. We walk away knowing we’ve got no one to fear, there were some interesting decisions and both camps will walk away saying the same.”

Uni muffed the opening kick-off and West Harbour surged onto the attack off the back of a couple of penalties and strong forward play. Flyhalf Jack Debreczeni slipped on his approach to a first penalty attempt but made no mistakes with the second as the Pirates claimed a 3-0 lead before Uni had even touched the ball.

The Students went close after 15 minutes when Shaun Treweek couldn’t gather a clever box kick in slippery conditions, but a great hit on a five meter scrum allowed Uni captain Tom Boidin to pounce for the opening five pointer and a 7-3 lead.

West Harbour played a territory game, kicking into the corners, but Tom Kingston got the home side out of trouble, showing great poise in ankle deep mud to clear the line.

Composed in possession, Uni played with width before keeping it close to the ruck and rumbling towards the line. Hooker James Willan finished off one such effort after 25-minutes and the Students took a 14-3 lead.

The Pirates have a great front row this season and they caused Uni a few headaches at the scrum as halftime approached. Wests dominated the closing stages of the half with a series of re-set scrums and penalties which resulted in Paddy Ryan spending ten minutes in the bin. Lock Will Skelton was also yellow carded, but for all their pressure, the Pirates were unable to find a killer blow and some desperate goal line defence mixed with coach-killing handling errors kept Uni’s 14-3 lead intact at the break.

Young prop David Lolohea was a standout again for West Harbour. Photo: seiserphotography.com

Uni forced the issue after the resumption, a fired up Paddy Ryan stampeded through the Pirates defence before West Harbour prop Vaughan Lomax was sin-binned and Uni were awarded a penalty try for a 21-3 lead.

The wheels fell off for Wests after that; or more accurately given the conditions, the flood gates opened.

Kingston – playing as if the pitch were in pristine condition – ran 60-meters through scattered defence to score before Tom Carter finished off another counter attack for a 33-3 advantage.

Winger James Dargaville showed some great pace and footwork for Uni’s sixth of the day after three more yellow cards were issued while a penalty on fulltime gave Uni a 41-3 victory.

The Students host Eastern Suburbs next Sunday while West Harbour play Gordon at Concord Oval on Saturday.

Sydney University 41 (Tom Boidin, James Willans, Tom Kingston, Tom Carter, James Dargaville, penalty try, tries; d West Harbour 3 (Jack Debreczeni pen)