The Shute Shield Grand Final
The final last Saturday capped one of the best seasons of Shute Shield rugby of recent times.
There were some cracking games during the year and perennial winners, Sydney University [Uni], Manly, Eastwood, Southern Districts, and new contenders, the Warringah Rats, were all in the mix at the pointy end of the season.
The Rats were the most exciting team of the competition and ran the ball from everywhere. Typical was a try at 1 min 46 secs in this clip when they played Manly in Round 16
Their flyhalf, Hamish Angus got the award for the Player of the Year (for the second time in three years). The former Aussie Sevens player was just the fellow to spark the Rats backline, but they lacked depth in their player pool and faded towards the end of the season.
They couldn’t progress to the semis, ironically, because Southern Districts beat Eastwood (the eventual champions) in the qualifying final and the Woodies had to get the fourth semi spot.
Manly looked favourites throughout the season with their big pack and class throughout their XV. Everybody was surprised that the bullies were beaten at home by Eastwood in the semi-final.
Uni had a good young side this year, including the Shute Shield Rookie of the Year, Henry Clunies-Ross, but they were knocked out in the other semi by the giant-killing Southerners, also at home. Not counting Uni fans, it was a popular win because the Students had been in every final for yonks.
The Grand Final
So it came down to the Grand Final on Saturday between Eastwood, who were thrashed by Sydney University 51-6 in the final last year, and Southern Districts (The Rebels) who lost the final three years ago by one point, also to Uni.
The Rebels started well and were leading 6-0 after Ben Volavola slotted two penalty goals. But Tom Hill kicked two for Eastwood and Jed Gillespie, a prop who thinks he’s a back, ran through some non-tackles to score. Eastwood led 13-6 at oranges.
There was only one team in it in the second half. Jai Ayoub finished the season as one of the form players in the competition and when he scored the writing was on the wall for the Rebels, especially as Tom Hill was kicking his goals.
Ben Volavola scored a try from a set piece to give Southerns a sniff but Michael McDougall put them away with his try for Eastwood.
Final score: Eastwood 33 — Southern Districts 13.
The scoring:
Eastwood 33 (J. Gillespie, J Ayoub, M. McDougall tries; T. Hill 3 cons, 4 pens) def. Southern Districts 13 (B. Volavola try, con, 2 pens)
Shute Shield photos courtesy of Keith McInness Photography
