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Sydney University trailed for only one minute of a lopsided Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final, running out 45-20 victors at Concord Oval.
The Students scored six tries to three, with Skins Man of the Match Daniel Halangahu a standout as he drove the champions around the park and collected 15 points with the boots. The two clubs also met in the first final of the day with Randwick triumphing in 4th Grade, Gordon winning 3rds and Northern Suburbs taking out 2nd Grade. TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD (1ST GRADE) – SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V RANDWICK
Sydney University took the lead in the eighth minute of the Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final, never looking back as they ran away with the competition decider 45-20 at Concord Oval. Randwick maintained possession in the opening stages with Tim Walsh drawing first blood through a seventh minute penalty, however it was to be the only time the Galloping Greens led in the entire match. The Students hit back immediately after the restart, when Jerry Yanuyanutawa charged down Randwick’s clearance kick and regathered to score in the corner. The rampaging prop looked to be over for his second try in the 15th minute, charging towards the line from a Randwick turnover, however a last gasp effort from Bernie Orbell saw the ball jolt free and a try went begging. But the Students didn’t have to wait long for their next opportunity to come when they developed an overlap from a close-range scrum to send Nathan Trist over. Halangahu’s conversion extended the lead to 12-3 after the opening quarter of the match. Randwick battled to stay in the match, but after a period of extended possession and field possession turned down an opportunity to close the gap. The decision soon paid off with Rodney Voullaire muscling his way over in the right corner. Walsh missed an opportunity to reduce the margin to one point in the 35th minute when a penalty attempt from right in front missed to the right. Then two minutes later the miss was compounded when fullback Matt Nethery failed to ground a Phil Waugh grubber kick as he was shadowing it over the touch-in-goal line, and Trist pounded to score his second. The second half began exactly how the first finished, with captain Tim Davidson scoring in just the second minute back on the field. Halangahu converted and soon after added a penalty to take the score to 27-8. Randwick’s best attacking foray of the second half finished with the ball going through the hands of Ratu Nasiganiyavi with the tryline beckoning, and again the Galloping Greens were made to pay soon after when Halangahu piloted a drop goal to take the margin outside three converted tries. The floodgates were well and truly open in the 65th minute when replacement back Nick Edwards crossed for the Students’ fifth try, the soon after Trist split the defence before sending Nathan Charles over. Consolation tries to Nasiganiyavi and Morgan Turinui in the final five minutes put some respectability back in the scoreline however the Students thoroughly deserved the size of their victory.
Sydney University 45 (Nathan Trist 2, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Tim Davidson, Nick Edwards, Nathan Charles tries; Daniel Halangahu 3 cons, 2 pens, con) d Randwick 20 (Rodney Voullaire, Ratu Nasiganiyavi, Morgan Turinui tries; Tim Walsh con, pen). Half-time: Sydney University 17-8. Referee: James Leckie. Crowd: 5114. Man-of-the-match: Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University).
By the clock
7th – Tim Walsh penalty goal. Randwick 3-0.
8th – Jerry Yanuyanutawa try; Daniel Halangahu missed conversion. Sydney University 5-3.
18th – Nathan Trist try; Daniel Halangahu conversion. Sydney University 12-3.
22nd – Tim Walsh missed penalty goal
26th – Daniel Halangahu missed penalty.
32nd – Rodney Voullaire try; missed conversion. Sydney University 12-8.
35th – Tim Walsh missed penalty.
38th – Nathan Trist try; Daniel Halangahu missed conversion. Sydney University 17-8.
42nd – Tim Davidson try; Daniel Halangahu conversion. Sydney University 24-8.
46th – Daniel Halangahu penalty goal. Sydney University 27-8.
52nd – Daniel Halangahu drop goal. Sydney University 30-8.
59th – Daniel Halangahu penalty goal. Sydney University 33-8.
65th – Nick Edwards try; Daniel Halangahu missed conversion. Sydney University 38-8.
72nd – Nathan Charles try; Daniel Halangahu conversion. Sydney University 45-8
75th – Ratu Nasiganiyavi try; Tim Walsh missed conversion. Sydney University 45-13.
79th – Morgan Turinui try; Tim Walsh conversion. Randwick 45-20. COLIN CAIRD SHIELD (2ND GRADE) – GORDON V NORTHERN SUBURBS
Northern Suburbs has come from fifth place to claim the 2008 Colin Caird Shield, defeating Gordon 16-14 in the Grand Final. The Highlanders ensured a grandstand finish by scoring inside the last three minutes to reduce the margin to two points. However the Shoremen hung on over the closing stages to secure victory and go one better than 2007 when they lost the competition decider. Flanker Alistair McFarland scored all of Norths’ points via a try, three penalties and a conversion, while James Coolican scored a double for Gordon.
Northern Suburbs 16 (Alistair McFarland try; Alistair McFarland 3 pens, con) d Gordon 14 (James Coolican 2 tries; Donny Nepia 2 cons). Half-time: Northern Suburbs 9-7. Referee: Dan Cheever. HENDERSON SHIELD (3RD GRADE) – GORDON V MANLY
Gordon’s only loss during the regular season was way back in round two however they were pushed all the way in the Henderson Shield Grand Final, eventually triumphing 15-14 over Manly. The Highlanders scored first but were forced to come from behind to take a one-point lead with eight minutes left on the clock. Adam Donkin twice had the opportunity to take the lead for Manly with penalty attempts in the last two minutes, however the shots both missed handing Gordon the victory. Gordon 15 (Vili Napa’a, Dan Robinson tries; Daniel Nieass con, pen) d Manly 14 (Chris Yarrington 2 tries; Adam Donkin 2 cons). Half-time: Manly 7-5. Referee: Steve Hardy. HENDERSON CUP (4TH GRADE) - RANDWICK V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Randwick kicked off Grand Final Day in the best possible fashion, defeating Sydney University 24-14 to win the Henderson Cup. The Randwick Fourth Grade side went through the entire season undefeated but faced a stern test against the Students, twice coming from behind to score a three-tries-to-two victory. Randwick dedicated the victory to Tom Carr-Boyd, their outside back who died in a skiing accident last month.
Randwick 24 (Matt Lippiat, Andrew Wing-Kee, Ata Hau tries; Wara Hunita-Paki 3 cons, pen) d Sydney University 14 (Andrew Battishall, Jamie Whelan tries; Jamie Whelan 2 cons). Half-time: 7-all. Referee: Luke Colbron.
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