21 August 2006
Graham Croker
An off day with the boot from Randwick goalkicker Mark Sweeney left the door ajar for Sydney University to storm home to a 31-25 extra-time win in their Sydney grade rugby union major semi-final at Coogee Oval on Saturday.
Sweeney missed three conversions and a crucial penalty goal attempt as Sydney University overcame an 18-6 deficit with 10 minutes remaining to level the scores at 18-all on the stroke of full-time, sending the match into a 20-minute extra-time period.
The Students posted two penalties and a converted try in extra time to earn a sixth grand final appearance in the past eight seasons. Randwick will now travel to Concord Oval for the final on Saturday against Eastern Suburbs, who defeated Manly 16-10 in the minor semi-final.
Randwick coach Todd Louden must be ruing his days as coaching director at Sydney University two seasons ago when he helped instigate the elite development program with fitness guru Martin Harland. The innovative and highly successful Harland program bore fruit when the Students lifted the tempo of the game in the closing stages to finish on top as the extra minutes took their toll on the hosts.
Indeed the Students played their best football in the pulsating final term when they kept the ball in hand and forced the hosts to scramble in defence. Until then, their kicking game allowed Randwick to counter-attack and control possession for long periods.
Close marking from both sides saw just one try in the first half with Randwick going to the break with an 8-6 advantage. Sweeney’s only goal of the match saw the hosts take a three-nil lead in the third minute. The Students returned serve, with penalty goals from fullback Julian Huxley and five-eighth Daniel Halangahu (while Huxley was being treated for a head wound) giving them a 6-3 lead.
With six minutes of the half remaining, Randwick spread the ball wide to number eight Stephen Hoiles, who threw a long pass for second-rower Shawn Mackay to scamper down the left touchline to score in the corner.
The Students’ expected dominance at the scrum was hampered by referee Matt Goddard, who penalised them three times at the set piece in the first half.
The scrum problems gave way to lineout problems in the second half, when five throws, including one in the red zone, came down Randwick’s way. With a lack of possession and a backline unable to find rhythm, the Students spent much of the second half defending.
Another scrum penalty 13 minutes into the second term saw Randwick take play to the corner, win a clean lineout and set up a rolling maul for hooker Adam Frier to score.
The Students attempted the same ploy five minutes late but the lineout ball came down Randwick’s way and an attacking raid from their own line through centre Matui Maille, Hoiles and winger Paul Hannify took play to the University red zone. Another lineout win to Randwick off a University throw resulted in flanker Chris Houston diving over for an 18-6 lead.
With the minutes ticking down, the University forwards lifted the tempo and gave the side some rhythm, and with it, come cohesion. A six-phase build-up saw the ball shifted across the line to halfback Nick Haydon, who found second-rower Dean Mumm with a long pass. Mumm set sail for the corner and had to wait on a video referee decision before celebrating the try. Huxley missed the conversion, but the University was back in the hunt at 18-11.
The Students continued to mount pressure in the closing stages, with great control at the breakdown and some strong surges from Halangahu. A penalty with one minute on the clock saw Haydon take a quick tap. When he was pulled down two metres from the line number eight David Lyons collected the recycled ball and plunged over 10 metres to the right of the posts. Huxley landed the crucial conversion for an 18-all scoreline and 10 minutes each-way of extra time.
Having finished the game proper full of running, the Students continued the onslaught and were rewarded with two penalties deep in Randwick’s half in the first six minutes of extra time. Huxley calmly landed both for a 24-18 advantage at the end of the first half of extra time.
Hoiles, who had an outstanding game, was probably penalised for trying too hard early in the final 10 minutes when he tried to keep the ball alive while being tackled. His pass went to ground and was snapped up by replacement University prop Josh Hately, who showed a good turn of speed to career 40 metres up the left flank. With a lone Randwick defender closing in, he put on his thinking cap, veered infield to take the tackle and unloaded a great pass to skipper Tim Davidson, who was chasing like a runaway locomotive. His try and Huxley’s conversion took the score to 31-18, with a grand final appearance in sight.
Randwick lifted for the final two minutes and were rewarded with a try on the bell to replacement centre Matt Carraro. Frier’s replacement Antonio Halangahua landed the conversion, bringing the curtain down on a gripping contest.
There were plenty of good players in this club match that was played at Third Tier level. Frier, Mackay, Houston and Hoiles got through plenty of work in the Randwick pack, while halves Patrick Phibbs and Brent Kelly menaced the line throughout.
Flanker Davidson was a standout in the University pack that had many willing workers, including second-rowers Mumm and Will Caldwell and backrowers David Haydon and Lyons. Huxley was stoic at fullback and landed the goals that counted, while Tom Carter and Luke Inman defended strongly in the centres.
Other results
Sydney University Second Grade kept their dream alive with a tight 7-6 win over Randwick in the minor semi-final played at North Sydney Oval on Friday night. A Jack Farrer try and a Chris Cawte conversion were enough to earn the team a final berth against Eastern Suburbs, who lost the major semi-final 18-13 to Manly.
Northern Suburbs ended Sydney University Thirds’ run with a 23-10 win over the Students in the preliminary played at Pittwater Rugby Park on Sunday.
Sydney University Fourths are through to the grand final at Concord Oval at 10am on Saturday August 26.
Sydney University Fifths stayed in the hunt for the Meldrum Cup when they defeated Dee Why 15-14 at James Morgan Reserve on Saturday.
After the Fourths do battle at Concord Oval on Sunday, Sydney University’s Colts I and Colts II will also contest grand finals.
Colts II will be defending their title at 1.35pm, while Colts I will be shooting for a fifth straight premiership at 3.10pm.