Students on top in Tooheys New Shute Shield
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Saturday, 12 April 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Sydney University remain the only team on maximum points after three rounds of the Tooheys New Shute Shield.
Lachlan Mitchell attacks for Sydney University
Lachlan Mitchell attacks for Sydney University. [2008 TNSS - Rd 3]
Eastern Suburbs winger Afusipa Taumeopeau looks for space
Eastern Suburbs winger Afusipa Taumeopeau looks for space. [2008 TNSS - Rd 3]
Warringah's Clint Eadie battles through the Norths' defence
Warringah's Clint Eadie battles through the Norths' defence. [2008 TNSS - Rd 3]
Randwick half Josh Valentine
Randwick half Josh Valentine. [2008 TNSS - Rd 3]
Eastern Suburbs also remain undefeated, however with bonus points in every game, the Students now sit alone at the top of the competition.
Their 50-24 victory over Parramatta at University Oval was all one way traffic, however the same could not be said about a number of matches in round three, including the Eastwood-Easts clash in the ABC TV Match of the Day.
EASTWOOD V EASTERN SUBURBS at T.G. Millner Field
Eastern Suburbs were never headed in their Tooheys New Shute Shield match today, surviving a spirited comeback from Eastwood to win 27-15 at T.G. Millner Field.
Easts had what looked to be a match-winning lead, however the Woodies got within a try in the final stages before the visitors sealed the game with a runaway try.
Both sides were willing in the opening exchanges with Eastern Suburbs showing why they were on maximum points, while Eastwood played above the form of their 41-point flogging in round two.
Easts opened the scoring after a great build up. Gavin Debartolo was at his mercurial best in a 50m break downfield to gain momentum. After a few phases moved play from centre- field to the right and back to the left, Brumbies wing Afusipa Taumeopeau went close before flicking to hooker Billy Johnstone who crashed over.
Debartolo's conversion had Easts out to a 7-0 lead after 10 minutes, but Eastwood soon hit back with some individual brilliance.
With Easts clearing their own half, Jesse Leota retreated to take the ball on halfway before turning on the attack. He firstly chipped the first line of the defence and when the bouncing ball tricked the cover defender, Leota grubbered again past the fullback to score just inside the touch and dead ball line.
As both sides struggled to gain dominance in the second quarter of the match Debartolo added a penalty to increase the margin to five, however a 33rd minute penalty to Ben Batger saw the Woodies down 10-8 and right in the game.
Easts received another penalty in the shadows of half-time to lead 13-8 at the break.
Both sides struggled to gain the ascendency in the second half, with Eastwood holding onto a lot of ball but struggling to break the gain line against an imposing Eastern Suburbs defensive line.
While the Woodies probably should have made an impact on the scoreboard at the start of the second half, it was Easts who went over first when Johnstone grabbed a rare double in the left corner which Debartolo converted.
The match remained in the balance for the next 20 minutes, with Easts unable to find the match-sealing try while Eastwood struggled to get back into it.
With less than ten minutes left it was game on when Leota crossed for his second after some individual brilliance from captain Hugh Perrett.
When Batger converted from the sideline the score was 20-15 going into the last five minutes.
Eastwood had their chances but were out on their feet, and when Easts broke down the left it was game over as Taumeopeau scored his third try in two weeks.
Debartolo converted to bring his season tally to 42 points in three matches, while Eastwood left T.G. Millner with not even a bonus point despite having a chance to win the game in the final minutes.
Eastern Sububrbs 27 (Billy Johnstone 2, Afusipa Taumeopeau tries; Gavin Debartolo 3 cons, 2 pens) d Eastwood 15 (Jesse Leota 2 tries; Ben Batger con, pen) at T.G. Millner Field. Half-Time: Eastern Suburbs 13-8. Referee: Julian Pritchard
PENRITH V GORDON at Western Weekender Stadium
Penrith are ruing another one which got away, with Gordon scoring back-to-back wins after their 43-30 victory at Western Weekender Stadium.
Playing their first match at arguably the best ground in the Tooheys New Shute Shield, Penrith were again guilty of playing one good, and one lacklustre half, however did pick up their first bonus point of the season.
Gordon won the match in the opening half, running away to a 31-13 lead, and despite the Emus winning the second half, the Highlanders were far too good in their seven tries to five victory.
Gordon 43 (Craig Thomas 2, Kingsley Seale, Viliame Ratu, David Harvey, Atu Vakatawakoro, Billy Rainima tries; David Harvey 4 cons) d Penrith 30 (Nick Richardson 2, Campbell Sione 2, Patrick Mecuri; Jono Rolfe con, pen) at Western Weekender Stadium. Half-Time: Gordon 31-13. Referee: Andrew Lees.
WARRINGAH V NORTHERN SUBURBS at Pittwater Rugby Park
Warringah have thrilled the crowd at Pittwater Rugby Park with a come from behind 24-12 victory over Northern Suburbs.
Norths looked to be keeping their perfect record alive with a 12-7 lead with five minutes to go, but someone forgot to tell the Rats.
Returning from duty with the Australian Sevens team, Peter Owens scored two tries in as many minutes, and when Sam Hutcherson crossed at the death Warringah had escaped with a 24-12 bonus point victory.
Warringah 24 (Peter Owens 2, Sam Hutcherson, Pat McCabe tries; Clint Eadie 2 cons) d Northern Suburbs 12 (Steven Evans, Andrew Smith tries; Todd Sly con) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Hallf-Time: 7-all. Referee: Nathan Pearce.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V PARRAMATTA at University Oval No.1
Sydney University sit alone on top of the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder after a 50-24 victory over Parramatta this afternoon.
Playing their first home game for the season, the Students scored four tries in each half to ensure they received maximum points from their opening three matches.
Nathan Trist collected a double for Uni, while three second half tries to the Two Blues delivered Parramatta's first bonus point of the year.
Sydney University 50 (Nathan Trist 2, Jerry Yanayanatawa, Jono Jenkins, Dan P Kelly, Lachlan Mitchell, Mitch Inman, Leo Afeaki; Dan P Kelly 5 cons) d Parramatta 24 (Scott Podmore, WInnie Paulo, Roland Herea, David Alo; Josh Weeks 2 cons) at University Oval No.1. Half-Time: Sydney University 24-5. Referee: Grant MacNeill.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS V WEST HARBOUR at Forshaw Park
West Harbour has produced an amazing comeback at Forshaw Park to collect a 46-33 victory over Southern Districts.
After leading Randwick at half-time in their opening match of the season, Souths again succumbed in the second half to lose another home match which could have easily gone the other way.
John Sinisa scored two tries to bring his season tally to four as West Harbour overcame a 15-23 half-time deficit to eventually come away with the victory in a match which saw 79 points scored in 80 minutes.
West Harbour 46 (John Sinisa 2, Ben Roberts, Mark Porpiglia, Steve Massey, Irisa Taala, Lester Salanoa, Ben Martin tries; Steve Massey 3 cons) d Southern Districts 33 (Tim Small 2, Matt Trouville, Terry Autagavia; Darren Kapene 3 pens, 2 cons) at Forshaw Park. Half-Time: Southern Districts 23-15. Referee: Angus Gardner.
MANLY V RANDWICK at Manly Oval
Manly will come away from three home matches to start the season with just one bonus point after Randwick won their second match for 2008 with a 31-15 victory at Manly Oval.
The result was set up in the first half when the Wicks galloped to a 14-0 lead, and while the Marlins did come back it simply wasn't enough.
Randwick's lead sees them remain in the top six with two wins and two bonus points, while Manly sit alongside Parramatta and Penrith at the bottom of the ladder.
Randwick 31 (Ratu Nasiganiyavi, Tim Wright, Matt Nethery tries; Danny Kroll 4 pens, 2 cons) d Manly 15 (Lupini Siale, Elvis Taione tries; Adam D'Arcy con, pen) at Manly Oval. Half-Time: Randwick 14-0. Referee: Daniel Cheever.