Sydney University clinched the 2015 Sydney Premier Grade rugby union Club Championship on Saturday after winning six of their seven matches and drawing the other against Northern Suburbs in the final round of the competition proper.
The Students took the lead in the Club Championship after a clean sweep over Warringah in Round 17 and needed a solid finish on Saturday to collect the Gregor George Cup.
But their task was made tougher on Friday night when they were docked 30 points for a player selection infringement in Third Grade Colts. And when Norths held Third Grade to a 26-all draw on Saturday, it was all hands to the deck.
Second Grade posted a 36-19 result and First Grade ran out 52-12 winners to seal the Club Championship. Sydney University ended up with 2905 points to edge out Eastwood (2856), Randwick (2743), Manly (2504) and Northern Suburbs (2227) in a very tight finish.
In another significant finish, Randwick won the Colts Club Championship with 922 points, edging out perennial winners Sydney University (822) and Northern Suburbs (695).
Manly ended the Shute Shield competition proper as minor premiers, with their 16-2 win-loss season taking them to 77 points. Defending premiers Eastwood (74), Southern Districts (62), Sydney University (58), Warringah (57) and Randwick (52) make up the top six.
The Shute Shield preliminary finals this Saturday will see Southern District host Sydney University at Forshaw Rugby Park, Eastwood host Warringah at T.G. Millner Field, and Manly host Randwick at Manly Oval.
Saturday’s successful round against Northern Suburbs resulted in all Sydney University teams making it through to the preliminary finals for the 10th consecutive year.
Sydney University Second Grade will play Randwick at Forshaw Rugby Park, with the other grades and Colts venues to be confirmed.
Scoreboard
NSW Men’s Premier Rugby Union competition – Round 18
First Grade – Shute Shield: Sydney University 52 (Tom Carter 2, Dave Dennis, David Hickey, Mitchell Whiteley, Jim Stewart, Matthew Narracott, Tom Kinston tries; Angus Roberts 6 goals) d Northern Suburbs 12 (Sam Kitchen, Richard Woolf tries; Joshua Kay goal) at Sydney University No.1 Oval on Saturday. Points: Sydney University 5, Northern Suburbs 0.
Second Grade – Colin Caird Shield: Sydney University 36 (James Swann 2, pen try, Oliver L’Estrange tries; Byron Hodge 4 goals, pen goal) d Northern Suburbs 19 (Lewis Dwyer, Alastair, Kurt Penney tries; James Wivell 2 goals. Points: Sydney University 5, Northern Suburbs 0.
Third Grade – J.R. Henderson Shield: Sydney University 26 (George Hudd, John Mokofisi, Ben Cannon, Sam English tries tries; Benn Cannon 3 goals) drew with Northern Suburbs 26 (Connor Vest, Vasco Fragoso-Mendes, Mitchell Kay tries; Brendan Holliday 3 goals. Points: Sydney University 3, Northern Suburbs 3.
Fourth Grade – J.R. Henderson Cup: Sydney University 29 (Dylan Vieira 2, Nao Suzuki, Chris O’Donnell tries; Tom Wilson 3 goals, pen goal) d Northern Suburbs 23 (David Bond, Joshua Phillips, Sean Chistensen tries; Joes Jenkins goal, 2 pen goals. Points: Sydney University 5, Northern Suburbs 1.
Colts
First Grade – W. McMahon Memorial Shield: Sydney University 36 (Folau Faingaa, Joshua Schwager, Christian Kagiassis, Jack Redden, Christian Yassmin, Will Davies tries; Christian Kagiassis 3 goals) d Northern Suburbs 15 (Nicholas Clancy, Dominic Naylor tries; Jack Clancy goal, pen goal) at Sydney University No.1 Oval on Saturday. Points: Sydney University 5, Northern Suburbs 0.
Second Grade – Shell Trophy: Sydney University 24 (Toby Cooke, Patrick Muller, pen try; James Kane 3 goals, pen goal) d Northern Suburbs 5 (Scott Pater try). Points: Sydney University 5, Northern Suburbs 0.
Third Grade: Bill Simpson Shield: Sydney University 61 (Patrick Muller 3, G Thomas 2, Alexander Hutchinson, Samuel Docking, Wayne Nevili, Jaydon Faavae-Eli tries; Sam Renton 8 goals) d Northern Suburbs 12 (Hugh Adams, Harris Brown tries; Harry Kemball goal). Points: Sydney University 5, Northern Suburbs 0.
