After successive losses, to competition front-runners Manly and Warringah, Sydney University returned to the winner’s list with an up-tempo 48-13 disposal of Northern Suburbs at No.1 Oval on Saturday.
Inside-centre Tom Carter started the match with a charge-down try and ended the contest with second touchdown on the back of a bullocking 40m run.
In between TC’s efforts, the Students served up 70 minutes of attacking fare, with plenty of recycled possession and quick passing to the edges.
That resulted in winger Henry Clunies-Ross bagging a pair – one from long-range – and his partner on the right flank, James Dargaville, scoring another. Both share some of the qualities of former great Sydney University fullback-cum-Wallabies winger Rob Egerton. They’re quick, have nimble footwork and the ability to elude defences. Of course, Egerton possessed plenty of other qualities as well.
Fullback Stuart Dunbar, halfback Jake Gordon and number eight Tom Boidin also scored tries, while five-eighth Dan Kelly landed four conversions.
Norths posted their only try when centre Lachlan Porteous produced a five-pointer as the final hooter sounded. Jack Grant added the conversion to his first half penalty goals.
While Sydney University made it a clean-sweep in the grades, Norths turned the table in Colts, with a 43-38 result in First Grade and a 22-7 win in Second Grade.
Manly took the outright lead in the Shute Shield with their 39-16 win over Warrngah at Manly Oval on Saturday. The undefeated Marlins sit on 29 competition points, with Eastwood (25), Manly (25), Sydney University (21), Randwick (17) and Parramatta (17) making up the top six.
In a tight run for the Club Championship, Manly head the rankings with 1049 points, ahead of Sydney University (1025) and Eastwood (1020).
Sydney University will cross the harbour to take on Gordon at Chatswood Oval in their Round 7 matches next Saturday.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Premier Rugby competition – Round 6
First Grade: Sydney University 48 (Henry Clunies-Ross 2, Tom Carter 2, Tom Boiden, Jake Gordon, James Dargaville, Stuart Dunbar tries; Dan Kelly 4 goals) d Northern Suburbs 13 (Lachlan Porteous try; Jack Grant goal, 2 pen goals) at Sydney University No.1 Oval.
Second Grade: Sydney University 45 (Dane McCarthy 2, James Swan 2, Hugh Frazer, Josh Ellis-Flint, Jock Merriman tries; Jack Macklin 5 goals) d Northern Suburbs 8 (Alec McSpadden try; Corey Tulloch pen goal).
Third Grade: Sydney University 46 (Oliver L’Estrange 3, Jason Hofmeyr 3, James Luff, Ben Cannon tries; Jason Hofmeyr 3 goals) d Northern Suburbs 5 (Alec McSpadden try).
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 10 (Fadi Saad try; Billy Macklin goal, pen goal) d Northern Suburbs 7 (Ash Hall try; James Edwards goal).
Colts
First Grade: Northern Suburbs 43 ( 7 tries) d Sydney University 38 (6 tries).
Second Grade: Northern Suburbs 22 d Sydney University 7.
Third Grade: Sydney University 29 (4 tries) d Northern Suburbs 22.
Sydney Women’s Premier competition – Round 4
First Grade: Sydney University 23 d Warringah 15 at St John’s College Oval.
