Students stay in front with perfect record
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Saturday, 19 April 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Victories to Sydney University and Warringah have left the Students as the only undefeated team after round four of the Tooheys New Shute Shield.
Sydney Uni flyhalf Dan P Kelly
Sydney Uni flyhalf Dan P Kelly
Damian Lloyd on the charge for West Harbour
Damian Lloyd on the charge for West Harbour
Junior To'o scores for the Two Blues against Souths
Junior To'o scores for the Two Blues against Souths
Uni overcame a gallant Northern Suburbs side to go four-from-four over the opening month of competition, while Warringah's victory at Woollahra Oval inflicted Eastern Suburbs first loss for 2008.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V NORTHERN SUBURBS at Sydney Football Stadium
In a first half befitting of two of the competition frontrunners, neither side could gain the upper hand. Both sides had the opportunity to edge in front with penalties, however approaching the break the score was still locked at nil-all.
As half-time approached, the Students resorted to tried and true tactics with some structured driving forward play following the set piece seeing HSBC Junior Waratah Laurie Weeks burrow over to put Uni up 5-0 at the break.
Ten minutes into the second half and after a sustained period of pressure, Norths copied the Uni tactic and when another Junior Waratah Al Manning ploughed over the game was tied again.
A penalty to Todd Sly soon after was the first successful attempt at goal for the afternoon, and gave Norths an 8-5 lead going into the last quarter of the match.
Norths continued to attack from the kick-off and were soon back into the opposition half. After both sides traded turnovers, Chris Burnett broke through the University defence down the left and linked with Andrew Smith for Norths' second try.
Sly's conversion put Norths out to a 15-5 advantage and well on top.
Just when University looked like they might be vulnerable, the defending champions went straight back on the attack and when Weeks crashed over for his second, Dan Kelly's conversion reduced the margin to three.
Both sides continued to challenge their opposition, with the forward contest a highlight.
Uni started to look more dangerous on the fringes, and it was their captain who made the decisive play of the game, breaking down the right side from 30m out before sending replacement Jon Burnett over for a 17-15 lead.
As the clock wound down Norths had their chances with a good amount of possession, however simply weren't able to break the University defence, the Students keeping their perfect season rolling on.
Sydney University 17 (Laurie Weeks 2, Jon Burnett tries; Dan P Kelly con) d Northern Suburbs 15 (Al Manning, Andrew Smith tries; Todd Sly pen, con) at Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: Sydney University 5-0. Referee: Daniel Cheever
WEST HARBOUR V MANLY at Concord Oval
West Harbour were never headed as they collected their third win of the season, beating 38-14 at Concord Oval.
Captain Ben Martin scored 18 points in the Pirates 14-point victory in a match which was all one-way traffic.
Despite three second half tries, the Marlins could not get within striking distance of West Harbour and remain with just one competition point from four rounds.
West Harbour 38 (Mark Porpiglia, Dave Paurini, Rory Sidey, Ben Martin, Chris Aho tries; Ben Martin 5 cons, pen) d Manly 24 (Lupini Siale, Daniel Collins, Elvis Taione tries; Adam D'Arcy 3 cons, pen) at Concord Oval. Half-time: West Harbour 14-3. Referee: Andrew Lees
EASTERN SUBURBS V WARRINGAH at Woollahra Oval
Warringah have scored the only points of the second half to inflict Eastern Suburbs first defeat of the season, running out 19-12 victors at Woollahra Oval.
The Rats scored three tries to two for their third win of the season, joining Easts on 15 points with the Beasts securing a bonus point from their narrow loss.
Warringah 19 (Ross Duncan, Michael Ruthven, Ed Doyle tries; Clint Eadie 2 cons) d Eastern Suburbs 12 (Richard Stanford, Adam Byrnes tries; Gavin Debartolo con) at Woollahra Oval. Half-time: 12-all. Referee: Julian Pritchard
GORDON V EASTWOOD at Chatswood Oval
Gordon have scored a comprehensive victory over Gordon with a 52-8 victory at Chatswood Oval.
The Highlanders scored seven converted tries, with flyhalf Dave Harvey landing 17 points with the boot.
After leading by just two at the break, Gordon ran away with the game with 42 unanswered points in the second half.
Gordon 52 (Mark Preston 2, Craig Thomas, Viliame Ratu, Terry Preston, Sisa Waqa, Marty Plotskys tries; Dave Harvey 7 cons, pen) d Eastwood 8 (Jesse Leota try; Ben Batger pen) at Chatswood Oval. Half-time: Gordon 10-8. Referee: Matt Goddard
RANDWICK V PENRITH at Coogee Oval
Ratu Nasiganiyavi and Sekope Kepu have each scored hat-tricks as Randwick scored a comprehensive 62-19 victory over Penrith at Coogee Oval.
The Wicks ran in 10 tries to three, with Nasiganiyavi extending his lead as the competition's leading tryscorer with eight tries in four matches.
Randwick 62 (Ratu Nasiganiyavi 3, Sekope Kepu 3, Metui Maile, Ben Mowen, Rodney Voullaire, Lotu Taukeiaho tries; Danny Kroll 4 cons, Toby Browne 2 cons) d Penrith 19 (Campbell Sione, Patrick Mekuri, Brent Varga tries; Jono Rolfe 2 cons) at Coogee Oval. Half-time: Randwick 28-12. Referee: James Scholtens
PARRAMATTA V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at Two Blues Park
Parramatta have scored their first win of the season with a come from behind victory over Southern Districts at Two Blues Park.
Souths led 15-7 at the break, however two second half tries to the Two Blues saw them score a memorable come-from-behind victory.
Souths have now lost three matches this season having led at half time, and won their only match when they trailed at the break.
Parramatta 22 (Andrew Brown, Junior To'o, Paul Kavienga, Ben Borg tries; Josh Weeks con) d Southern Districts 18 (James McCormack, Andrew Barrett tries; Darren Kapene 2 pens, con) at Two Blues Park. Half-time: Southern Districts 15-7. Referee: Steve Hardy