University, Randwick in Grand Final
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:59
Randwick will meet Sydney University in the Shute Shield Grand Final this Saturday after running out victors in their respective preliminary finals over the weekend.
The Students were dominant for almost the entire game on Saturday, running out 26-10 victors over Eastern Suburbs in the first preliminary final at Coogee Oval, while Randwick defeated Gordon 25-22 in the second preliminary final at Pittwater Rugby Park on Sunday.
Sydney University v Eastern Suburbs, Coogee Oval
Daniel Halangahu scored 16 points and expertly guided University around the park with his kicking in general play, helping the Students to their fourth Shute Shield decider in as many years.
Aside from a 10 minute period prior to half-time when Easts scored all their points, the defending champions were in complete control, scoring two tries to one in the 16-point victory.
Despite Eastern Suburbs playing with the advantage of a gusting breeze in the first half, it was the minor premiers who started the match on top and immediately applied early pressure.
Halangahu posted first points with a penalty in the eighth minute, however despite spending the opening quarter of the match camped in the Eastern Suburbs' half, the Students could not breach the defence.
Gavin Debartolo failed with a chance to even up the match in the 22nd minute, then five minutes later University missed an opportunity to extend their lead with a knock on over the try-line with five points begging.
Soon after Halangahu landed a penalty to double the Students' lead, however almost instantly momentum shifted to the Beasts.
From the restart University knocked on, and two phases after the ensuing scrum Matt McGann crossed for the first try of the game.
Debartolo's conversion put Easts in front by one, and a penalty in the 36th minute took Easts to a 10-6 advantage.
The exciting fullback looked to extend the half-time lead with a 50-metre drop-goal attempt just before the bell, however it drifted just wide leaving the Beasts with a four-point advantage at the break.
The pendulum swung back to Sydney University as soon as the whistle was blown to start the second stanza, with Easts kicking out on the full.
Then in the fifth minute, Lloyd Jones was ruled to have tackled University skipper Tim Davidson without the ball in a try-scoring position, with a penalty try awarded to the Students.
Halangahu had a chance to extend the lead in the 52nd minute with a penalty, however despite his miss the minor premiers didn't have to wait long before Dean Mumm strode over under the posts.
Halangahu's conversion gave the Students a 10-point buffer with 20 minutes remaining.
Easts replacement prop Heamani Lavaka was shown the yellow card for a high tackle in the 70th minute, with Halangahu kicking another penalty to extend the lead to 23-10.
Shortly after a neck injury to University No.7 Jono Jenkins stopped the match for an extended period, putting the flank in serious doubt for the Grand Final.
Halangahu kicked his fourth penalty in the 76th minute to take the margin outside two converted tries, sealing the match once and for all for the Students.
Scorers:
For Sydney University:
Tries: Mumm, Penalty Try
Cons: Halangahu 2
Pens: Halangahu 4
For Eastern Suburbs:
Try: McGann
Con: Debartolo
Pen: Debartolo
Referee: James Leckie
Randwick v Gordon, Pittwater Rugby Park
The Galloping Greens were forced to come from behind, with three tries in the opening 15 minutes of the second half taking Gordon to a commanding lead.
However the experience of Peter Jorgensen and Morgan Turinui proved crucial with the Randwick midfield taking control of the game late in the second half to secure a place in the decider.
Randwick drew first blood with an eighth minute penalty to Tim Walsh and had the opportunity to extend that in the 23rd but his second attempted drifted wide.
Dave Harvey levelled the scores in the 26th minute and Gordon looked to be ready to take the lead just minutes later however Sisa Waqa was tackled into touch five metres out.
Walsh regained the lead for Randwick in the 30th minute with another penalty, and soon after had a one-man advantage when Waqa was shown a yellow card for a deliberate infringement at the ruck.
Harvey and Walsh both missed penalties in the final five minutes of a tryless first half, however the game was about to break open after the break.
Gordon hooker Nath Nicol scored just two minutes into the second 40 with a well worked line-out move from short range seeing the No.2 cross in the right corner.
Shortly after Waqa's return from the sin-bin he crossed after a well-worked move, and with Harvey's conversion the Highlanders were out to a 15-6 advantage.
Randwick however was not to be outdone, with their own try-scoring superstar Ratu Nasiganiyavi crossing in the left corner in the 52nd minute. Walsh's sideline conversion closed the margin to two points.
And just when it looked like the Galloping Greens would take the lead with a big overlap right on the Gordon line, Waqa rushed out of the line and took the ball for a 95-metre intercept try under the posts.
Harvey's conversion took Gordon out to a 22-13 lead with 25 minutes remaining.
Randwick were trying everything they could to get back in the game, and it came with a touch of nostalgia when Peter Jorgensen set sail on a 45-metre run to the line he would have been proud of 15 seasons ago.
Walsh converted from 15 metres in from touch to create a two-point game with eight minutes remaining.
Randwick's stars played a major role in sending them into the lead just two minutes later. Firstly Wallaby hooker Adam Freier - playing less than 24 hours after appearing in Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup encounter in Brisbane - flew high to take a midfield kick then broke downfield.
On the next phase, another Wallaby in Reds centre Morgan Turinui made the decisive break before sending Brumbies wing Francis Fainifo over in the right corner.
Walsh missed the conversion, leaving Randwick up 25-22 with five minutes remaining.
Gordon pushed for field position in the closing stages but Randwick expertly shut the game down to finish three-point victors.
Scorers:
For Randwick:
Tries: Nasiganiyavi, Jorgensen, Fainifo
Cons: Walsh 2
Pens: Walsh 2
For
Gordon:
Tries: Waqa 2, Nicol
Cons: Harvey 2
Pen: Harvey
Referee: Ian Smith
