Sydney University v Randwick
The Students proved themselves a force to be reckoned with, dominating the Wicks throughout the first 60 minutes to cross the line six times and secure a comfortable 38 to 25 home victory.
The Wicks were slow to start, scoring only six points through a pair of first-half penalties. In contrast, the Students were strong in attack and defence, crossing the line for a try inside the first ten minutes thanks to a strong rolling maul. Their barging forward pack laid the platform for another three first-half tries, with the maul put to good use again later in the half.
In impressive form, Uni fullback and tryscorer Tom Kingston looked dangerous, finding a number of gaps in the Wicks defence, as did scrumhalf Jake Gordon, who crossed the line twice.
Randwick came back in the latter stages of the second half, crossing three times through prop Faitotoa Asa and flyhalf Cayden Matehaere, who grabbed a pair, but the Students’ lead never really looked threatened.
Complimenting the dominant performance of his pack, and in particular the rolling maul, Students’ captain Tim Davidson said after the match, “We identify things each week, as a forward pack we’d spoken about how we hadn’t really asserted ourselves in that area so it was definitely a goal this week. We wanted to get across the line once and it was fortunate for us it worked a couple of times there.”
Flying back early from Christchurch after coming on from the bench in the HSBC Waratahs’ gutsy performance against the Crusaders, Wicks’ replacement Drew Mitchell said he enjoyed his return to club rugby. “There’s a lot of skill across the board there for the Wicks and the intent is really good in terms of the way they want to play.
“It’s always hard coming into those sorts of environments. We were chasing the game and as is often the case when you’re chasing the game, you go away from your structures a little bit. At the same time, the boys pulled it back pretty well. I think they scored two or three tries off rolling mauls, so if we can try to eliminate that then there’s a really good platform to work from.”
Playing alongside his good friend Kurtley Beale, Mitchell added, “I think he got through that 80 pretty well, especially the way the Wicks play. There’s no kicking and very little down time. He was certainly at it for most of the time the ball was in play and he’s got through unscathed. He’s in good spirits.”
Sydney University 38 (Tom Carter, Tim Davidson, Jake Gordon 2, Tom Kingston, James Willan tries; Byron Hodge 4 cons) d Randwick 25 (Faitotoa Asa, Cayden Matehaere 2 tries; Cayden Matehaere 2 cons, 2 pens). Referee Simon Moore.
