Sydney University’s clean-sweep of West Harbour in four grade and two Colts matches on Saturday elevated them to the Sydney Premier rugby Club Championship lead with four rounds of the competition proper to be played.
Chasing an 11th consecutive Club Championship, the Students have three home matches going down to the wire, starting with Eastwood at No.1 Oval on Saturday. Sydney University will then travel to Merrylands RSL Rugby Park the following week to take on Parramatta, before rounding out the competition rounds by hosting Gordon in Round 17 and Eastern Suburbs in Round 18. The finals will begin on August 2.
The Students are firmly entrenched in fourth place on the Shute Shield ladder which is headed by Manly on 62 points, with Warringah (56), Eastwood (55), Sydney University (53), Southern Districts (36) and Randwick (33) making up the top six.
Saturday’s 42-19 result over West Harbour at No.1 Oval was a potent effort, with wingers Henry Clunies-Ross (two) and Jack Dargaville (two) continuing their spree with four of Sydney University’s six tries. Centres Tom Carter and Chris Ingate also crossed for five-pointers, while fullback Jack Macklin slotted three conversions and a penalty goal in blizzard-like conditions. The scorer of the other three points and his modus operandi will become a trivia quiz question, the answer being: Tom Carter landed a field goal.
Tito Mua, Rory Sidey and Joel Brooks scored tries for the visitors, with Sai Vakarau landing two conversions.
Sydney University Second Grade sit third of the competition ladder on 60 points, with Eastwood (68), Manly (63), Gordon (48), Randwick (39) and Warringah 36) making up the top six.
Sydney University head the Third Grade ladder, while Fourth Grade are in third place. The three Colts teams head their competitions in pursuit of a 10th consecutive Colts Club Championship.
Scoreboard
Sydney Men’s Grade competition – Round 14
First Grade – Shute Shield: Sydney University 42 (Henry Clunies-Ross 2, Jack Dargaville 2, Tom Carter, Chris Ingate tries; Jack Macklin 3 goals, pen goal, Tom Carter field goal) d West Harbour 19 (Tito Mua, Rory Sidey, Joel Brooks tries; Sai Vakarau 2 goals) at Sydney University No.1 Oval.
Second Grade – Colin Caird Shield: Sydney University 42 (Jake Gordon 2, Jack Sullivan, James Swan, James McMahon, Ben Lenehan tries; Jason Hofmeyr 2 goals, Byron Hodge goal, 2 pen goals) d West Harbour 17 (David Osofua, Tim Hansen, Sione Kaivelata tries; Angus Le Lievre goal).
Third Grade – Henderson Shield: Sydney University 48 (Ben Cannon 3, Sam English 2, David Fong 2, Willie Du Plessis tries; David Fong 4 goals) d West Harbour 7 (Grant Pemberton try; John Stapleton goal).
Fourth Grade – Henderson Cup: Sydney University 46 (Fadi Saad 3, Kodie Drury-Hawkins 2, Stuart Mill, Shannon O’Brien tries; Billy Macklin 4 goals, pen goal) d West Harbour 17 (Leon Latu, Ryan Coombs tries; S Ennis 2 goals, pen goal).
Colts
First Grade: Sydney University 31 (5 tries) d West Harbour 23.
Second Grade: Sydney University 71 (11 tries) d West Harbour 29 (5 tries).
Sydney Women’s Grade competition – Round 11
First Grade: Sydney University 58 d Waverley 0 at St John’s College Oval.
