Second half rampage keeps Students undefeated
» Back to News Listing
Saturday, 26 April 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
A steamrolling second half performance by Sydney University has seen them remain undefeated after round five of the Tooheys New Shute Shield.
Sydney University flyhalf Dan P Kelly
Sydney University flyhalf Dan P Kelly battles through the Easts defence [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 5 - Sydney University v Eastern Suburbs]
Eastwood No.8 Josh Dunning
Eastwood's Josh Dunning in heavy contact [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 5 - Eastwood v Penrith]
Gordon's Vinnie Byrne and Dave Harvey celebrate
Gordon's Vinnie Byrne (9) and Dave Harvey celebrate [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield - Warringah v Gordon]
Parramatta's Roland Herea
Parramatta's Roland Herea [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 5 - Manly v Parramatta]
Randwick and Northern Suburbs secured bonus point victories while West Harbour and Warringah stayed in the top six despite going down this weekend.
Sydney University v Eastern Suburbs at University Oval No.1
A five try second half by Sydney University carried the Students to their fifth straight victory and kept them atop the Tooheys New Shute Shield table, running out 38-16 victors over Easts at University Oval No.1.
After trailing at half-time, University ran in 33 unanswered points in the second half, with Nick Haydon and Jerry Yanuyanutawa each grabbing doubles.
Easts fullback Gavin Debartolo opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a penalty, however Uni took the lead shortly after when Jono Jenkins scored the game's first try.
Easts took back the lead 6-5 with another penalty and were dominating field position for extended periods of time.
Eventually the Beasties territorial advantage led to a try, with a Tom Egan line break sending Afusipa Taumeopeau over in the left corner.
Two minutes later 18-year-old Taumeopeau went over again, the Brumby flyer's fifth Shute Shield try already this season, and Easts were looking good.
Debartolo missed both conversions from near touch, and then a simpler penalty attempt on half-time but Easts still went to the break with a 16-5 advantage.
University came out with all guns blazing in the second half and were quickly dominating field position. After a series of penalties and free kicks, Easts flanker Ed Brenac was eventually sin binned for repeated infringements and as he left the field the floodgates opened.
Almost immediately scrumhalf Nick Haydon crossed for University's second try, and when Jerry Yanuyanutawa went over the conversion put the Students up 17-16.
Straight from the restart University made yards at will and when Haydon crossed for his second next the posts the Students secured a bonus point and a 24-16 lead.
Brenac returned to the field in the 57th minute however the damage was done, with University scoring 19 unanswered points while he was off the field.
With the full complement of players, Easts looked to be back on track and put themselves in good field position, however the final pass twice went awry.
The Students capitalised with some great forward play out wide, and when Laurie Weeks put Ben McCalman through a gap, his final pass in the tackle put Yanuyanutawa on a 35m dream run to the line for his second.
Halangahu's conversion took the score out to 31-16 and the writing was on the wall.
In the dying stages sustained pressure saw Lachlan Rosengreen cross down the left flank, and Halangahu's fourth conversion was the final score of the game to secure Uni a 38-16 result.
Sydney University 38 (Nick Haydon 2, Jerry Yanuyanutawa 2, Jono Jenkins, Lachlan Rosengreen tries; Daniel Halangahu 4 cons) Eastern Suburbs 16 (Afusipa Taumeopeau 2 tries; Gavin Debartolo 2 pens) at University Oval No.1. Half-time: Eastern Suburbs 16-5. Referee: Nathan Pearce.
Warringah v Gordon at Pittwater Rugby Park
Gordon have overcome a 14-man Warringah line-up to score a 16-10 victory at Pittwater Rugby Park.
Rats No.8 Saia Latu was given his marching orders in the first half after two yellow cards, and the extra man advantage proved crucial in a hard-fought match.
Gordon led 13-0 at half-time, however a spirited Warringah fight-back fell six points short.
Warringah remain in a share of fourth, while Gordon's victory puts them third on the Tooheys New Shute Shield table.
Gordon 16 (Josh Whittaker try; Dave Harvey 2 pens, con, drop) d Warringah 10 (Clint Eadie try; Clint Eadie con, pen) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Half-time: Gordon 13-0. Referee: Julian Pritchard.
Eastwood v Penrith at T.G. Millner Field
Kicking proved crucial at T.G Millner Field this afternoon with Eastwood scoring a 39-27 victory over Penrith.
Both sides scored five tries apiece, however it was Ben Batger's kicking which proved crucial, his 19-point haul piloting Eastwood to a 12-point victory, just their second of the season.
Penrith were gallant in defeat capturing their second bonus point of the season, with Campbell Sione grabbing a double to bring his season try tally to seven.
Eastwood 39 (Ben Batger, Filipo Toala, Nathan Powyer, Barney Wood, Josh Dunning tries; Ben Batger 4 cons, 2 pens) d Penrith 27 (Campbell Sione 2, Sia'a Taveuveu, Shemaiah Evans, Patrick Mekuri tries; Jono Rolfe con) at T.G. Millner Field. Half-time: Eastwood 15-10. Referee: Steve Hardy.
Northern Suburbs v Southern Districts at North Sydney Oval
Northern Suburbs have secured a confidence boosting 30-10 victory over Southern Districts at North Sydney Oval.
After going from first to seventh in the last fortnight, Norths scored four tries to one on their way to a bonus point which lifts them to a share of fourth.
Souths on the other hand are now more than two wins outside the top six and in need of victories to get their season back on track.
Northern Suburbs 30 (David Maunsell, James Lew, David Bond, Andrew Smith tries; Todd Sly 2 cons, 2 pens) d Southern Districts 10 (Craig Richards try; Darren Kapene con, pen) at North Sydney Oval. Half-time: Northern Suburbs 12-3. Referee: Andrew Lees.
Manly v Parramatta at Manly Oval
Parramatta have scored back-to-back victories, coming back in the second half to defeat Manly 21-17 at Manly Oval.
Both sides scored two tries, however 11 points from the boot of Josh Weeks gave the Two Blues their second win in as many weeks and lifts them to eighth on the table.
Manly have now dropped their first five matches, including four at home, and sit with Penrith on the bottom of the table.
Parramatta 21 (Tito Mua, David Alo tries; Josh Weeks 3 pens con) d Manly 17 (James Lakepa, Stephen Scoles tries; Adam D'Arcy 2 cons, pen) at Manly Oval. Half-time: Manly 7-6. Referee: Damien Mitchelmore.
West Harbour v Randwick at Concord Oval
Randwick has moved into second place with a 48-29 victory over West Harbour at Concord Oval.
The Galloping Greens scored eight tries to four, including touchdowns to Waratahs Sekope Kepu and Ben Mowen, while Peter Jorgensen also crossed for a try.
West Harbour's four tries keeps them in the top six, with John Sinisa scoring his fifth try in as many matches.
Randwick 48 (Sekope Kepu, Steve Brennan, Rodney Voullaire, Ben Mowen, Daniel Nethery, Peter Jorgensen, David Batiratu tries; Daniel Nethery 4 cons) d West Harbour 29 (Mark Porpiglia, Irisa Taala, John Sinisa, Nick Reilly tries; Ben Martin 3 cons, pen) at Concord Oval. Half-time: Randwick 22-17. Referee: George Ayoub.