Sydney University Football Club is again on the hunt for seven premierships in the Sydney Grade Rugby Shute Shield competition.
The club has been in contention for the clean sweep a number of times in the past decade, during which time they have dominated the Club Championship and Colts Club Championship. But they have found the target elusive.
First Grade wrapped up the 2013 season proper with a 78-0 thumping of Randwick at Coogee Oval on Saturday.
Winger Greg Jeloudev scored five of the Students’ 12 tries and Tom Kingston grabbed three as Sydney University continued a rich vein of form going into the finals series. And five-eighth Bernard Foley, who had been training with the Wallabies squad, landed nine of the 12 conversions.
First Grade finished second on the competition ladder on 75 points, three adrift of minor premiers Eastwood on 78. The top eight was rounded out by Manly (65), Southern Districts (62), West Harbour (56) and Eastern Suburbs (47), Northern Suburbs (43) and Randwick (40).
The finals series this weekend will feature a Qualifying A Final between Eastwood and Southern Districts at T.G. Millner Field and a Qualifying B Final between West Harbour and Randwick at Concord Oval on Saturday.
The Qualifying C Final between Eastern Suburbs and Northern Suburbs at Chatswood Oval and the Qualifying D Final between Sydney University and Manly, at Manly Oval, will be played on Sunday.
Manly edged out Sydney University by two points to earn the Second Grade minor premiership. Sydney University will take on Eastwood at T.G. Millner Field in the Qualifying D Final on Sunday. The other Qualifying Finals will see Manly up against Randwick, Northern Suburbs against Parramatta, and Eastern Suburbs against Gordon.
Sydney University Thirds won the minor premiership by 12 points over Eastwood, with Randwick, Manly, West Harbour, Eastern Suburbs, Southern Districts and Gordon making up the top eight. The Students will take on Manly, at Manly Oval, in the qualifying final on Sunday.
Sydney University also collected the Fourth Grade minor premiership with a six point buffer over Eastwood. Randwick, Northern Suburbs, Eastern Suburbs, Manly, West Harbour and Southern Districts make up the top eight. Sydney University will meet Northern Suburbs, at Manly Oval, in their qualifying final on Sunday.
Sydney University’s First and Second Grade Colts won their way to finals berths, with convincing wins in the major semi-finals on Saturday.
First Grade Colts defeated Randwick 85-5, while Seconds defeated Manly 54-30. They will have this weekend off to prepare for the finals.
Third Grade Colts went down 12-10 to Eastern Suburbs and will have to defeat West Harbour in their semi-final to earn a final berth
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 18 (Final competition round)
First Grade: Sydney University 78 (Greg Jeloudev 5, Tom Kingston 3, Ben McCalman, Bernard Foley, Will Skelton, James Dargaville tries; Bernard Foley 9 goals) d Randwick 0 at Coogee Oval.
Second Grade: Sydney University 29 (James Willan, Benn Melrose, James McMahon, James Dargaville tries; Byron Hodge 3 goals, pen goal) d Randwick 20 (Andrew Wing Kee, Toese Vou Siutu, Stephen Hoiles tries; Andrew Norton goal, pen goal).
Third Grade: Randwick 25 d Sydney University 18.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 50 (Cameron Lawrence 3, Michael Widdup, David Fong, James Swan, Connor Foley tries; David Fong 6 goals, pen goal) d Randwick 5 (Sosefo Smith try).
Colts (Qualifying finals)
First Grade: Sydney University 85 d Randwick 5.
Second Grade: Sydney University 54 d Manly 30.
Third Grade: Eastern Suburbs 12 d Sydney University 10.
Sydney Women’s Grade competition – Round 14
First Grade: Sydney University 68 d Penrith 0 at St John’s Ground.
