27 August 2007 By Graham Croker
Sydney University’s Colts 1 booked a sixth grand final appearance in as many years with a hard-fought 20-16 win over Eastwood in the major semi-final played at Woollahra Oval on Saturday.
The grueling affair had a hint of revenge in it for the Students, who suffered a controversial 29-25 grand final loss to the Woodies in 2006. While the Students will have a week off to prepare for the season decider, Eastwood will meet Easts in the final on Saturday to see if they live to fight another day.
After dipping out in the elimination final in 2001, Sydney University’s Colts 1 won four premierships on end from 2002-05 before a penalty try to Eastwood cost them the 2006 premiership.
Saturday’s major semi-final was played with the intensity of a grand final. Although leading 10-3 at the break, the Students failed to really capitalise on a dominant first half-hour, which allowed Eastwood to work their way to a 16-13 lead mid-way through the second half, before the introduction of five-eighth Justin Bosilkovski steered the Students home in a nail-biter.
The Students opened in clinical fashion, putting together multiple phases before winger Hayden Bushell scored in the corner in the 4th minute after halfback Matt Schwager worked the blindside from a 10-metre scrum.
The Students continued the assault from the restart but a turnover saw Eastwood’s outside-centre Matthew Saunders and fullback Luke Brecht take play to the University quarter, where they earned a penalty. Winger Mark Frost reduced the margin to 5-3 with a penalty goal from in front.
A big run from University flanker Ben McCalman, one of the best players on the ground, put the Students on the front foot again and a well engineered rolling maul resulted in a try to hooker Nathan Charles in the 27th minute. Bushell missed the conversion and the Students clung to the 10-3 lead as Eastwood pounded their line in the minutes before half-time.
A University fumble off the restart allowed Eastwood to gain possession and position. When University five-eighth Jeremy Su’a’s clearing kick was charged down by his opposite number Dustin Eaton, the Woodies number 10 eagerly chased the deflection to score in the second minute of the half.
Bushell pushed the score to 13-8 in the 47th minute with a penalty goal on the back of a bustling run from second-rower Tom Alexander, another big contributor – at the lineout and around the ground.
Once again, the Students messed up the restart and Frost made them pay with a penalty goal. He missed with another attempt minutes later, but the Woodies took the lead in the 55th minute when five-eighth Oliver Saunders worked the blind-side of a ruck near the University line to score after another Brecht incision. Frost’s conversion attempt hit an upright and bounced away.
University coach Nick Ryan introduced Bosilkovski to the fray and, although playing with a hamstring injury that has plagued his season, the move produced immediate results.
His short ball to David Fungalei saw the big number eight break the first line of defence before linking with winger Robert O’Reilly who sent Schwager over under the posts. Bushell converted for a 20-16 lead. Both sides had their chances in the closing stages, with another McCalman break almost reaping rewards and a Frost-Brecht incursion causing palpitations.
With minutes to go and the Students defending their line, the University forwards turned in two of the plays of the match. They earned a tighthead with an eight-man shove on a 10-metre scrum and defused another Eastwood scrum in the same spot a minute later with a wheel and a shove, effectively shutting down any chance the Woodies had of pulling the match out of the fire.
Indeed, the Students’ pack worked willingly throughout and ended up dominating at the scrum. They executed some telling rolling mauls but interestingly didn’t send up any aerialists on many Eastwood lineout throws, although they won their own very cleanly.
The University backline was stifled by a strong Eastwood defensive line, some indecision, loose passes and shallow running lines. Strapping centre Mitch Inman caused some concerns but was closely marked throughout.
Coach Ryan will be hoping Bosilkovski’s hamstring heals enough for him to play some part in the grand final.
The news wasn’t so good for the University’s other two Colts teams. An intimidating West Harbour won the Second Grade major semi-final 17-8, while the Under 19s went down 15-9 to Eastwood. They will have to win their finals on Saturday to defend their 2006 titles.
Third Grade will also have to work their way through the final of the Henderson Shield after losing 27-13 to Northern Suburbs in their major semi-final.
And in the Trevor Allan Cup, Randwick defeated Sydney University 43-25.