University picked up their first win of the season on Saturday when the Sydney Metro bronze division side beat Pennant Hills Stags 18-10 in an entertaining contest under leaden skies at the Camperdown campus.
Stags coach – former Roosters premiership winner and NRL ref Luke Phillips – kindly adjudicated after the NSWRL failed to provide referees for the Sydney Metro comp.
Phillips’ effort was in stark contrast to the authorities. He has played and refereed at the highest levels but realises the importance of grassroots sport and the efforts of volunteers to keep clubs functioning and provide a game each weekend.
As a result of NSWRL bungling, the silver division fixture between Uni and Asquith Magpies did not go ahead. The SURLFC extends its thanks to Phillips, Pennant Hills, and Asquith for their patience and flexibility around the unavailability of referees.
On a brighter note, The Lion Sleeps Tonight reverberated around St Paul’s College oval after Uni bronze ran in four tries to the Stags’ two. Perhaps the highlight of the match was one of the club’s favourite sons, Angus Bowen, answering an injury crisis call to come out of retirement and not only playing the house down but scoring a try too. The Bus, as he’s known, was one of the props during the previous season, but found himself in the centres on this occasion, where he looked more than comfortable. So if we’re lucky, perhaps this won’t be the last we see of Gus for 2023…
The players’ Player was David Dixon
Bronze: Sydney University 18 (David Dixon, Omerhan Turk, Samuel Younan, Angus Bowen tries; Omerhan Turk 1 conv) beat Pennant Hills 10
Report thanks to Halage Media.
