Sydney University ended the 2022 Sydney premier rugby union season proper with a 24-20 win over Manly at Manly Oval on Saturday to finish second on the Shute Shield table.
Northern Suburbs claimed the minor premiership with a 69-point season ahead of the University on 67 points.
But the Students did claim the Gregor George Cup (Colts and Grade) for the overall Club Championship and the Eric Spilstead Cup for the Colts Club Championship.
With the 2022 Shute Shield reverted to an eight-team final series for First and Second Grades and First Grade Colts, the Students will meet third-placed Randwick at Sydney University Football Ground in one of the Qualifying Finals this Saturday.
The other Qualifying Finals will be between Northern Suburbs and Manly (4th) at North Sydney Oval, Eastwood (5th) and Eastern Suburbs (8th) at Eric Tweedale Stadium, and Warringah (6th) and Gordon (7th) at Pittwater Rugby Park.
The Semi-finals will be played on 20 August, Preliminary Finals on 27 August and the Grand Final at Leichhardt Oval on 3 September.
The remaining Grade and Colts competitions will retain six-team finals series, with grand finals to be held on 27 August.
Sydney University topped the Second Grade table on 80 points, with Eastern Suburbs, Randwick, Norths, Two Blues, Manly, Gordon and Eastwood making up the top eight.
The Students finished second behind Eastern Suburbs on the Third Grade table and fourth behind Souths, Randwick and Eastern Suburbs on the Fourth Grade ladder.
In the Colts ranks, Sydney University finished minor premiers in First Grade and Third Grades and fifth behind Eastern Suburbs, Warringah, Manly and Randwick in Second Grade.
Meanwhile, Sydney Uni women’s side also took out the minor premiership in the premier Sydney Women’s competition for the Jack Scott Cup, winning nine of their 10 games in the season proper.
Gordon Gazelles defeated Uni 15-12 last Saturday on the back of the trusty boot of Ash Hewson. It was Sydney Uni’s first defeat in four seasons.
Semi-finals in the women’s competition will start this Saturday, with the top four including Sydney Uni, Gordon, Eastern Suburbs and Hunter Wildfires.
