Sydney University women’s rugby team kept their unbeaten run intact with an 80-5 win over bottom-of-the-ladder Penrith at St John’s College Oval on Saturday.
Wallaroo five-eighth Ashleigh Hewson kept the Students on the front foot throughout the encounter with her long and strategic kicking providing a solid platform for attack. Her nous will be missed when she represents Australia at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in August.
Hewson’s territorial gains from the boot were solidified by some great University chases, particularly from Ianeta Baker, allowing University to turn defence into attack and showing again that she is blind to the size of her opponents. In her second season, Baker is one of a group of young guns who are excelling for University.
In the forwards, the return of Stacey Bolton-Leonard in recent weeks has added to their strength and power. Bolton-Leonard ran the hard yards straight up the middle, defying tacklers and on occasions dragging opposition defenders with her.
Sydney University have the minor premiership in sight, leading the competition on 62 points, ahead of Parramatta (52), Rockdale (36), Warringah (34), Waverley (6) and Penrith (5).
This weekend University are playing away against their traditional rivals the Warringah Rats at Pittwater Rugby Park.