Sydney University’s climb up the Shute Shield ladder continued at University No.1 Oval on Saturday when they posted eight tries to two in accounting for Southern Districts 52-20.
The Students are now firmly ensconced at third on the ladder – on 64 points – behind runaway leaders Eastwood (81) and Manly (66). Eastern Suburbs (59), Randwick (57) and Northern Suburbs (52) make up the top six.
In a match that bore a striking resemblance to the previous week’s game against Northern Suburbs, the Students held a tight lead at the break before storming home in the second half.
Hooker Ben Roberts and second-rower Same Carter each grabbed two tries, with flankers Dave Dennis and Trent Dyer, winger Nathan Trist and centre Michael Hodge also posting five-pointers, while fullback Berrick Barnes slotted six conversions.
Barnes, in his third match back, and South Districts centre Rob Horne, who was playing his second game since March, were both impressive.
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 and Southern Districts at the weekend.
Their run home includes Gordon at University No.1 Oval, Randwick at Coogee Oval, Manly at University and Warringah at Pittwater Rugby Park.
The Students made it a clean-sweep on Saturday – for the second week in a row – with wins in the three lower grades and the Colts fixtures, while the Sydney University women’s team, the defending premiers, accounted for Penrith 43-7 at St John’s College Oval.
Scoreboard
Sydney Grade competition – Round 18
First Grade: Sydney University 52 (Ben Roberts 2, Sam Carter 2, Dave Dennis, Michael Hodge, Trent Dyer, Nathan Trist tries; Berrick Barnes 6 goals) d Southern Districts 20 (Nick Seymour, Aaron Tawera tries; Ben Volavola 2 goals, 2 pen goals) at Sydney University No.1 Oval. Referee: Steve Hardy.
Second Grade: Sydney University 48 (Zumbayr Abrahams 3, Tom Boidin, Angus Roberts, Tom English, Josh Dillon tries; Angus Roberts 5 goals, pen goal) d Southern Districts 6 (Dewet Roos 2 pen goals).
Third Grade: Sydney University 31 (Sam Talakai, Dane Cole-Clark, Josh Koops, Levy Dodd, Callum Fryer tries; Jack Macklin 3 goals) d Southern Districts 0.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 36 (Ned Mullany 2, Harry Marples, James Cameron, S Sailosi tries; James Cameron 2, Yasu Yakahashi, Brock Baillie goals, Brock Baillie pen goal) d Southern Districts 10 (Jesse McGregor try; Nathan Dwyer goal, pen goal).
Colts
First Grade: Sydney University 66 (8 tries) d Southern Districts 24 (4 tries).
Second Grade: Sydney University 53 (9 tries) d Southern Districts 3.
Third Grade: Sydney University 28 (4 tries) d Southern Districts 0.
Sydney Women’s competition – Round 19
Sydney University 43 d Penrith 7 at St John’s College Oval.
