The Warringah Rats have recorded their fifth consecutive maximum-points win in a 31-30 heart stopper over Sydney University in the Shute Shield last night. Their five tries earned them yet another bonus point and maintained their top-of-the-table ladder position, one point clear of Manly who they will squad up against in battle of the beaches next week.
Words by Ben Harrison, Photos by Karen Watson
Holmes brothers Luke and Josh were again inspirational for the Rats, playing a hand in several of the Rats’ tries.
Said scrumhalf Josh after the match, “Uni are a great side. They don’t win premiership after premiership for no reason but we set ourselves up for a big game today and we really came out and produced, getting the bonus point is always good as well.”
Rats’ fullback Dave Feltscheer made his team’s ambitions clear. “We knew this week and next would show the competition whether we are contenders or pretenders and with today’s gutsy effort, I think we showed we are here to win.”
One of the best players on the field however was on the losing side, with Sydney University’s Tom Boidon everywhere, easily topping the side’s bally carry count. “Two losses in a row really hurts,” admitted Boidon. “We have to keep working hard and turning up for each other. We have a young side and if we can maintain possession, I think we showed in the back end of the second half what we can do.”
Leading at half-time, Warringah looked confident going into the break, with tries to Sireli Tagicakibau, Dave Feltscheer and Hamish Angus giving the Rats a 21-13 lead, with Uni securing just the one first-half try through Sean McMahon.
The second period proved to be a fiery encounter with both sides letting aggression show. With the Rats leading 31-16, Student Tom Heslop was sent to the bin for a high shot on Warringah winger Brad Dixon. Despite being one man down, the Students’ fightback continued. Centre Tom Carter and wing Henry Clunies-Ross both crossed for tries and, on the back of Dan Kelly’s superb goal kicking late in the second half, the Students found themselves just one point behind with a minute left to play.
A somewhat controversial tackle penalty gave Uni the chance to steal the win but Kelly was off target on this occasion and upon securing possession after the whistle, the Rats wasted no time in clearing the ball into touch and celebrating their win.
Despite missing the winning penalty attempt, it was Dan Kelly’s accuracy with the boot that helped get his side back in the game. “It was touch and go off the boot and it hit the left post,” said Kelly of his final attempt. “It wasn’t to be today but that’s football. It’s a long year and we have a good side. We will come back stronger after now losing in a row.”
Clearly thrilled by the result, Warringah head coach Haig Sare praised his team’s determination and commitment, joking, “Who would want to be a coach with those sorts of finishes?
“It was great though, as a player I myself have lost to Uni a couple of times in circumstances like that, so it is a great feeling to get the bonus point win.”
Warringah’s win will see them full of confidence ahead of their away clash to the second-placed Manly Marlins next week, in the hotly anticipated Battle of the Beaches local derby.
Warringah 31 (Sireli Tagicakibau 2, Tui Tuisavall, Dave Feltscheer, Hamish Angus tries; Hamish Angus 3 cons) d Sydney University 30 (Henry Clunies-Ross, Tom Carter, Sean McMahon tries; Daniel Kelly 3 cons, 3 pens) at Pittwater Rugby Park.
The Woodies were fortunate to come away with a win, nothing up a narrow five-point victory over Randwick at T.G Millner.
Eastwood 23 (Andrew Clyne try, penalty try; Pierre Hola 2 cons, 2 pens, Harry Bennett pen) d Randwick 18 (Sam Figg, Andrew Norton tries; Andrew Norton con, 2 pen) at TG Millner.
Manly ran hot all day, running in seven tries in a convincing win over West Harbour at Concord Oval. The win cements their second place on the ladder and sets up a blockbuster top-of-the-table home clash against the leading Rats next week.
Manly 43 (Harry Bergelin 2, Katoni Ale 2, Alex Northam, Lui Siale, Shaun Treweek tries; Shaun Treweek 3 cons, Scott Daruda con) d West Harbour 19 (Michael Ala’alotoa, Henry Seavula 2 tries; Dave Harvey 2 cons) at Concord Oval.
A hat-trick for Will Paterson has helped Eastern Suburbs claim their first win of the season, thanks to a shock defeat of Northern Suburbs in their ANZAC Day clash at North Sydney Oval. The win lifts them three places of the bottom of the ladder, two places off eighth-placed Norths who drop two spots.
Eastern Suburbs 24 (Will Paterson 3, Will Fay tries; Henry Hudson 2 cons) d Northern Suburbs 14 (Kevin McNamara, Jack Grant tries; Jack Grant 2 cons) at North Sydney Oval.
Souths secured their second consecutive win, overcoming Penrith at Nepean Rugby Park. The Rebels look to finally have got their season on track after a slow earlier in the season, notching up a bonus-point victory that sees the rise one place to seventh overall.
Southern Districts 41 (Marcus Carbone 2, Fautula Finau, Oli Fanuilu, Benny Godinet 2 tries; Rohan Saifoloi 4 cons, pen) d Penrith 31 (Daniel Arona, KJ McKenzie 2, Jerome McKenzie tries; Robbie Mate 4 cons, pen) at Nepean Rugby Park.
Parramatta has came out on top of a closely-contested match against Gordon. After three losses on the bounce, the Two Blues’ victory is their second this season, after they earlier defeated the same opponents in Round 1. It seens them rise one place to sixth overall, whilst Gordon lies one spot above bottom-placed Penrith.
Parramatta 27 (Tomu Mataika 2, Murray Hermans, Lani Tiatia tries; Tom Woods con, Sam Yakopo con, Tom Woods pen) d Gordon 15 (Terry Preston, Mathew McDougall tries; Henry Carmichael con, pen) at Chatswood Oval.
