Sydney University’s march to another Shute Shield Sydney grade rugby title continued at Coogee Oval on Saturday when the Students accounted for Randwick 65-17 in emphatic fashion.
Fullback Berrick Barnes celebrated his selection in the 30-man Wallabies World Cup squad with a 22-point haul with two tries and six conversions.
Barnes posted 28 points (two tries and eight goals) the previous week when the Students ran riot over Gordon in an 81-12 result. He has now topped 100 points in his five games for the club this season since resuming from a spell on the sidelines.
Centre Michael Hodge also bagged a double at Coogee Oval, while Tom Kingston, Bernard Foley, Matt Schwager, Matt Mafi and Sam Carter also posted tries.
With Eastwood having already laid claim to the minor premiership with two rounds remaining, Sydney University can move into second place with a win over Manly at University Oval on Saturday.
The Woodies head the ladder on 91 points, with Manly (76), Sydney University (74), Eastern Suburbs (64), Randwick (58) and Northern Suburbs (57) making up the top six.
Since going down 25-19 to Manly in Round 12 this season, the Students knocked over Warringah 50-12 and Parramatta 65-7 before being defeated 22-7 by Eastwood. Since then the Students have accounted for Eastern Suburbs 23-19, West Harbour 37-15, Penrith 62-7, Norths 57-20, Southern Districts 52-20 and Gordon 81-12 before the win over Randwick at the weekend.
Their run home includes Manly at University and Warringah at Pittwater Rugby Park before the finals begin.
The Students are running third in Second Grade, first in Third Grade and second in Fourth Grade, while First and Second grade Colts head their competitions, with Third Grade Colts dropping to second after their loss at the weekend.
The Students head the Club Championship and the Colts Club Championship.
Meanwhile, the Sydney University women’s XV are on course to win back-to-back titles after defeating Penrith 71-nil in the semi-final on Saturday.
They will meet Merrylands in the grand final this Saturday.
On the representative front, two Sydney University Colts – Tim Reid and Stuart Dunbar – have been selected in the Australian Academy Under 19 side to play the visiting England Under 18 side.
Reid represented Australia A in 2010 and Australian Universities this year, while Dunbar played for NSW Schoolboys in 2010.
Sydney University Football Club also has five representatives in the 30-man Wallabies squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, to be hosted by New Zealand in September and October.
Halfbacks Luke Burgess and Nick Phipps, backrower Ben McCalman, five-eighth Berrick Barnes, and second-rower Dan Vickerman, have been included in the squad, while Dean Mumm and Dave Dennis were culled from the original 40-man train-on squad.
Australia are in Pool C of the World Cup with Italy, Ireland, the US and Russia. Pool A includes New Zealand, Tonga, France, Japan and Canada; Pool B includes Scotland, Romania, Argentina, England and Georgia, and Pool D includes Fiji, Namibia, South Africa, Wales and Samoa.
SUFC also has five players in the Australian Barbarian team to play Canada at Skilled Park on Friday night. Five-eighth Berrick Barnes, halfback Nick Phipps, number eight Pat McCutcheon and flanker Dave Dennis have been selected in the run-on side, while second-rower Dean Mumm is on the bench.
Scoreboard
Sydney Grade competition – Round 20
First Grade: Sydney University 65 (Michael Hodge 2, Berrick Barnes 2, Tom Kingston, Bernard Foley, Matt Schwager, Matt Mafi, Sam Carter tries; Berrick Barnes 6 goals, Daniel Halangahu goal, 2 pen goals) d Randwick 17 (Seilala Lam, Paul Hannify, Finau Makamaka tries; Toby Browne goal) at Coogee Oval.
Second Grade: Sydney University 48 (K Sambay, Oliver Atkins, Tom Boidin, Matt Schwager, Michael Ballenetti, Tom English, Josh Dillon, Adam Campbell tries; Angus Roberts 4 goals) d Randwick 7 (Daniel Spencer try; Michael Gibson goal).
Third Grade: Sydney University 25 (Jack Marples 2, Levi Dodd tries; Jack Macklin 2 goals, pen goal, Levi Dodd pen goal) d Randwick 19 (Steve Casamento try, Brendan Barnes goal, 4 pen goals).
Fourth Grade: Randwick 25 (Tom Jenkins, Trent Beilken, Jordan Brown tries; Trent Beilken 2 goals, 2 pen goals) d Sydney University 20 (Tom Halliday, James Cameron, Ned Mulhany tries; James Cameron goal, pen goal).
Colts
First Grade: Sydney University 33 (4 tries) d Randwick 10.
Second Grade: Sydney University 43 (7 tries) d Randwick 0.
Third Grade: Randwick 17 d Sydney University 7.
Sydney Women’s competition – Semi-finals
First Grade: Sydney University 71 d Penrith 0. Merrylands 10 d Warringah 7. Sydney University to meet Merrylands in grand final on Saturday.
