Shute Shield Round 15A Review: Hilgendorf try downs Students in one-point thriller

Despite outscoring their opponents by two tries to one, the Students failed to maintain their first half forward dominance, allowing replacement fullback Jai Ayoub to convert Eastwood centre Jimmy Hilgendorf’s try and then slot a penalty to bag a second half winner at T.G. Milner Field.
 
The Students’ physicality in the first half saw them dominate possession and keep Eastwood scoreless going into the break. However a cool and collected second half performance from the Eastwood pack helped the reigning Shute Shield premiers seal a fantastic victory with only one game remaining before the finals series begins.
 
“We didn’t have a lot of possession in the first half but they were only up seven-nil at half time, so it was a good effort,” said Eastwood captain Hugh Perrett.
 
“We knew we needed possession with the ball, a bit of patience and composure. I wouldn’t say we did that in the second half but we did enough to win the game.”
 
HSBC Waratahs captain Benn Robinson started the match for Eastwood and put in a good 40-minute performance. The Woodies’ win sees them solidify top spot on the Shute Shield ladder, a comfortable six points clear of second placed Manly, who have a game in hand.  The loss sees Uni’s lead over fourth-placed Southern Districts cut from six points to two, with the two teams meeting in the final round.
 
In other round 15A matches, Southern Districts pulled away with a late try to HSBC Waratahs’ speedster Atieli Pakalani sealing a 41-32 victory over Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra Oval.  Split over two weekends, the remaining eight teams are in action next weekend in round 15B.

Eastwood 13 (Jimmy Hilgendorf try; Ben Batger pen, Jai Ayoub con, pen) d Sydney University 12 (2 Michael Hodge tries; Daniel Kelly con)
 
Sydney University winger Michael Hodge opened the scoring with a great try which was converted by flyhalf Dan Kelly, giving the Students an early seven point lead.
 
Despite matching the Students in attack, Eastwood’s execution let them down and they went into the sheds at halftime with no points on the board.
 
Trailing at the half, the Woodies fought back, with three points through fullback Ben Batger followed soon after by a try from Jimmy Hilgendorf, the centre helping put lock Tom Alexander through a hole in the Uni defensive line before backing up for a superb try.
 
Replacement fullback Jai Ayoub’s conversion gave the Woods a three-point lead until Hodge grabbed his second try, thanks to some nice work from centre Mitch Inman.  An Ayoub penalty nudged the Woods back into the lead with 10 minutes to play and although Uni kept threatening the Eastwood line, the defence stood strong allowing the pack to hold on to possession and secure a thrilling one-point victory.

Southern Districts 41 (2 Atieli Pakalani, 2 John Ulugia, Ben Volavola, Lopeti Timani tries; Ben Volavola 4 cons, pen) d Eastern Suburbs 32 (2 Charlie Clifton, Apakuki Maafu, Anton Lavin, Pauliasi Taumoepeau tries; Brendan McKibbin 2 cons, pen)
 
Doubles to HSBC Waratahs Atieli Pakalani and John Ulugia have helped the Rebels seal a 41-32 bonus point victory over Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra Oval.
 
With the two sides neck and neck all afternoon, it was left to a late Pakalani try to seal a Souths’ victory, with fullback Ben Volavola racking up an impressive 16 points and proving himself to be an able replacement for HSBC Waratah Brackin Karauria-Henry.
 
Southern Districts now have just one regular season match to play which will be against Sydney University in round 16. Seventh-placed Eastern Suburbs face a tough final encounter against second-placed Manly, whilst the in-form West Harbour, who are hot on their heels, will take on 11^th placed Randwick.