07.07.2008 – Graham Croker
When Sydney University First XV trooped off with a 40-12 win over Parramatta at Two Blues Park on Saturday, they completed a second clean-sweep for the Football Club in the past two weeks – and maintained the competition lead.
With the incentive of a free keg when all grades triumph in the one round, the winners of the three lowers grades, the Meldrum Cup team and the three Colts teams were wetting their lips when the Firsts led 21-12 at half-time courtesy of three converted tries.
The Students upped the ante in defence in the second half and kept the hosts tryless while posting another three tries to run out comfortable winners.
It was a fitting reward for captain Tim Davidson, who played his 100th First Grade game for the club.
Fullback Nathan Trist made a welcome return to First Grade after a long injury lay-off and a couple of comeback games in the lower grades, while prop Jeremy Tilse was a late inclusion for Laurie Weeks, who suffered a broken nose in a training mishap on Thursday night.
Trist’s return resulted in Lachlan Mitchell moving from fullback to inside-centre. But the backline will be reshuffled again in the near future when Mitchell heads off to play for the London Wasps.
The Students will host Northern Suburbs at University No.1 Oval on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the three Colts teams maintained their unbeaten run through 2008, despite the loss of many players during the mid-year University break.
First Grade: Sydney University 40 (Pat McCutcheon, Tim Davidson, Nick Haydon, Lachlan Mitchell, Lachlan Rosengreen, Pauliasi Taumoepeau tries; Dan P. Kelly 5 goals) d Parramatta 12 (Andrew Cox, Tito Mua tries; Aaron Mattin goal) at Two Blues Park.
Second Grade: Sydney University 66 (Nick Edwards 3, Harrison Brown 3, Nick Hensley, Tim Aistrope, Jon Burnett, Julian James tries; Jeremy Aitkin 8 goals d Parramatta 7 (Viliama Fililava try; Steve Hales goal).
Third Grade: Sydney University 21 (Dan Kelly 2, C Clime tries; Scott Stumbles 3 goals) d Parramatta 19 (Steve Kolikata, Areta Lama, Roy Losefa tries; M. Bord 2 goals).
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 69 (Junior Tuitaria 3, J. Teseriero 2, Dan Farrell 2, E Pawer, Trevor Walsh, Andrew Caterson, Alexander Bye tries) d Parramatta 5 (George Williams try).
Meldrum Cup
Dee Why 47 d Sydney University 5.
Colts
First Grade: Sydney University 77(13 tries) d Parramatta 5.
Second Grade: Sydney University 118 (18 tries) d Parramatta 0.
Third Grade: Sydney University 45 (7 tries) d Parramatta 5.
