Students survive Eastwood scare
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Saturday, 7 June 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Two tries in the final ten minutes have delivered Sydney University a 23-15 victory over Eastwood in their deferred Tooheys New Shute Shield match at University Oval No.1.
Nick Hensley and Jeremy Tilse celebrate
Nick Hensley and Jeremy Tilse celebrate [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 8 - Sydney University v Eastwood]
The meeting of these two sides was the only Shute Shield match played this weekend. The clash was deferred from round eight when Sydney University defeated Sunnybank in Brisbane to claim the Australian Club Championship.
Eastwood led for more than 65 minutes, however ill-discipline ultimately cost the visitors any chance of victory.
Having held off University's challenges for the entire second half, Eastwood conceded the lead in the closing stages but only after being reduced to 13 men in a match which featured four yellow cards.
The Woodies started in fantastic fashion when Josh Dunning set up an 80m raid straight from the kick-off which finished three phases later with Filipo Toala's seventh try of the season.
Eastwood continued to camp themselves in Uni's half but could not extend their lead.
The Students first period of sustained pressure looked promising, and when the Woodies were found offside on the eighth phase Dan Kelly piloted a penalty to reduce the margin to two.
Uni continued to press and when referee Andrew Lees ruled a professional foul by Phil Mathers, the Eastwood second rower was yellow carded in the 22nd minute.
But while the Students couldn't break the Eastwood defence close in, once they were forced to attack from their own half Lachlan Mitchell broke the line 60m out and made a cross-field run to score.
Kelly's conversion was away off the woodwork leaving Uni with an 8-5 lead in the 27th minute.
Just when Mathers was ready to come back from the sin bin, an Eastwood grubber was intentionally batted into touch by Ed Jenkins. The Uni winger was yellow carded for a professional foul and for a short moment it was 14 on 14.
Almost immediately Seva Rokobaro crossed but knocked on, however at the next opportunity quick hands to the left put Toala over for his second.
After his first conversion attempt was charged down, Ben Batger made no mistake second time around and extended to a 12-8 lead.
The game opened up for Dunning again off the kick-off, however the Uni counterattack put the Students back on top and with just two minutes remaining the Students were held up over the line.
While Uni had their chances to push over with reset scrums in the final stages, time eventually ran out with Eastwood holding onto their four point lead at the break.
Kelly nailed a penalty in the early stages of the half to reduce the margin to one, however Batger soon replied to take the score to 15-11.
Uni continued to dominate possession and field position however despite Eastwood continually infringing the home side couldn't get across the stripe.
Their cause was given a boost in the 67th minute when Marty Wilson was shown the yellow card for yet another penalty at the breakdown.
Less than five minutes later Lees virtually sealed the fate of the match by sin binning Rokobaro and Eastwood were reduced to 13 men.
Scrum half Nick Haydon was held up after a quick tap, however in the ensuing scrum University's weight of numbers simply couldn't hold back the Students and when they collapsed, the referee awarded a penalty try.
Another penalty just before full-time allowed Uni to set a rolling maul from the lineout, and Haydon crashed over out wide.
The final try took a bonus point out of Eastwood's keeping, and with Kelly's missed conversion the Students ran out winners 23-15.
The victory sees University remain on top of the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder with a five point advantage over Gordon, while Eastwood sit a win outside the top six.
Sydney University 23 (Penalty try, Lachlan Mitchell, Nick Haydon tries; Dan Kelly 2 pens, con) d Eastwood 15 (Filipo Toala 2 tries; Ben Batger con, pen) at Coogee Oval. Half-time: Eastwood 12-8. Referee: Andrew Lees.