Sydney University’s clean sweep over Parramatta and Manly’s loss to Warringah at the weekend have created a three-way race for the Sydney Premier grade rugby Club Championship.
And with two rounds of the competition proper to be played it’s a race as tight as a fisherman’s basket, with Eastwood sitting on 2724 points ahead of Sydney University 2722 and Shute Shield leaders Manly on 2693.
Rounds 17 and 18 see Manly at home to Northern Suburbs and West Harbour; Eastwood meet Southern District at Forshaw Rugby Park and Warringah at Pittwater Rugby Park; while Sydney University host Gordon and Eastern Suburbs at University Oval.
Manly head the Shute Shield on 70 points, with Eastwood (65), Warringah (61), Sydney University (58) Southern Districts (46) and Randwick (38) making up the top six. West Harbour (36) are still a chance of edging out Randwick for the finals.
Sydney University ran in 10 tries in their 64-26 win over Parramatta at Merrylands Rugby Park on Saturday.
Flanker Sam Quinn, number eight Hugo Dessens and inside-centre James McMahon each bagged two, while second-rower Tom Boidin, flanker David Hickey, winger Henry Clunies-Ross and outside-Centre Jim Stewart also crossed the stripe. And five-eighth Dan Kelly’s seven conversions took him past two milestones: he now has 108 points for the season and 703 club points, including 598 in First Grade.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 16
First Grade: 64 (Samuel Quinn 2, Hugo Dessens 2, James McMahon 2, Tom Boidin, David Hickey, Henry Clunies-Ross, Jim Stewart tries; Dan Kelly 7 goals) d Parramatta 26 (Chris Nay 3, Evan Olmstead tries; Tom Woods 3 goals) at Merrylands RSL Rugby Park.
Second Grade: Sydney University 74 (Jake Gordon 3, Hugh Frazer 2, Angus Roberts 2, Mitchell Whiteley, Jack Macklin, Samuel English, Oliver L’Estrange, Ben Lenehan Tries; Byron Hodge 7 goals) d Parramatta 7 (John Poe try; Dom Graham goal).
Third Grade: Sydney University 59 (Anthony Pohlen 2, Dane McCarthy 2, Dave Dillon, Ben Murray, Jason Date, Johnathon Fakai, Willie DuPlessis tries; Dave Dillon 7 goals) d Parramatta 7 (Samuel Buka try; Tim Holliday goal).
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 64 (Fadi Saad 4, Jonny Loseli 2, Rangi Tagaloa, Rhys Griffiths, Kodie Drury-Hawkins, Paul Caruana tries; Billy Macklin 7 goals) d Parramatta 5 (D Demetriou try).
Colts
First Grade: Sydney University 67 (11 tries) d Parramatta 28 (4 tries).
Second Grade: Sydney University 56 (10 tries) d Parramatta 21.
Third Grade: Sydney University 54 (8 tries) d Parramatta 21.
Sydney Women’s competition – Round 13
First Grade: Sydney University 80 d Penrith 5 at St John’s College Oval.
