By MARK CASHMAN

Sydney Uni survived a 17-point surge from West Harbour in the first half of the battle of the inner west to grab a 50-29 victory that sees the Students sit in second place on the Shute Shield competition table.

Uni had bounced out to a 14-0 lead early in the first half but Wests got their game into gear and posted tries to Dion Spice and James Turner along with a penalty goal and conversions to Patrick Pellegrini to grab a three point lead.

But the Students can take an opportunity and they worked their way back into the lead with tries to hooker Patrick O’Doherty and Jack McCalman restoring some sort of order.

They went further ahead just after the break with a try to Sevens flyer Angus Bell but a yellow card to James Armstrong invited the Pirates back into the contest.