Another burst of late autumn sunshine laced the precinct of the Sydney University Football Ground on Saturday.
The Students faced off against Southern District Rebels, those sun and sand chiselled men from God’s country, the Shire or amongst the rugby fraternity Middle Earth!
Souths had the worst of starts when a deep kickoff was knocked on. University’s following scrum shunted the Rebel eight. The pack was almost about to be booked into the nearby Glebe morgue until University half back Theo Strang spread the ball to the open. Winger Henry Clunies- Ross received the ball at speed and scored an easy touchdown. The try was converted by winger James Kane in one of his most potent games for the blue and gold. More about the strawberry blond haired one later.
The initial try was soon after followed up with another Kane converted try scored by second rower Lachlan Swinton through the intense rucking by the University pack.
A one sided scoreline may have collectively spread through the grandstand. But Souths persevered assisted with the added sin binning of prop Matt Sandell for killing the ball to score two valuable tries. 14-12 favoured the Students at halftime. After a slow start the Rebels were back in the game.
The second year of home games playing at the SUFG is a Saturday treat. There are great facilities to view a game with food and beverage to match. But the old world charm of the club merchandise stand is a snapshot of a Country Women’s Association display. Manned by die hard volunteer Susie Dill-Macky, Susie’s Saturday Stall provides memorabilia, nick nacks, a warm hoodie or scarf with a smile at affordable prices plus GST!
The second half continued University’s dominance of the set pieces. A demolition scrum saw a simple try scored by five eighth Daniel Poletto. The smell of a wounded Rebel was sensed by University. Further tries were scored through more ruthless forward play and a spectacular try by the one and only James Kane.
The Kane try was pure innovation. Inside centre Will McDonnell punched down the far blindside and off loaded to his ginger wing man Kane. Kane continued running hard but added a twist. He executed a chip and chase regathering motoring ahead legs pumping like a runaway over height truck in the M5 tunnel to score with rapturous applause.
Ironically Kane missed his conversion. But Kane had registered one hundred points for the club elevating him to the status of other famous Gingers’ – Ginger Meggs , Ginger Rogers of the screen, Ginger Baker of British Rock group Cream and now Ginger Jim Kane!
Fullback Tim Clements completed the days scoring with another easy try after a loosely marked ruck for a final victory of 40-12.
Coach Rob Taylor appreciated nothing more than a solid game, “We played well and managed to take a bonus point from a good side. This is great preparation leading into next week’s game against Eastwood.”
University are at the T.G. Millner Field next Saturday to do battle against traditional rivals Eastwood.
Trys: L. Swinton (1), D. Poletto (1), J. Kane (1), H. Clunies- Ross (1), D. Mcduling (1), J. McCalman (1)
Conversions: J. Kane (5)
