SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V RANDWICK

Sydney University have claimed their fifth straight premiership after defeating Randwick 24-19 in the Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Tom Carter was named Mirvac Man of the Match after causing havoc in the midfield in both attack and defence, forming a lethal combination with Perth-bound centre Mitch Inman who scored the decisive try of the match.

Grand Final Week’s worst kept secret was revealed shortly before kick-off with Adam Freier’s inclusion at openside flanker for Randwick, lining up directly against HSBC Waratahs teammate Phil Waugh.

A break by Carter in the fourth minute set up the first scoring chance for Sydney University however Nathan Charles knocked the ball on over the line from the ensuing phase.

The Students didn’t have to wait much longer to bother the scorers, Charles eventually touching down in the eighth minute following a good break by his Australian Under 20s teammate Peter Betham. Halangahu converted from 15m in from the left touchline for a 7-0 lead.

A turning point came in the 25th minute when Freier left the field clutching a hamstring, and Randwick were forced into uncontested scrums when a mouth cut to Atonio Halangahu saw him enter the blood bin.

Marshall Milroy got Randwick on the board via two penalties, before Nick Edwards shot down the left side to take the Uni lead back out to eight.

Randwick finally turned territory into points when Bernie Orbell broke the line before getting a perfect ball between defenders to send Drew Mitchell over in the corner. Milroy missed the conversion leaving Uni with a 14-11 advantage at half-time.

The Galloping Greens hit the lead early into the second half when Francis Fainifo put Milroy over in the right corner, however Uni hit straight back with Mitch Inman scoring a great centres try after ploughing through the defence.

Halangahu’s conversion restored a five-point lead, and he extended that in the 53rd minute with a well-timed drop goal to open up a 24-16 break.

Milroy closed the margin to within a try with his third penalty of the game, but despite repeated opportunities in the University quarter, the Wicks couldn’t break the defending premiers’ line sending the Shute Shield back to campus.

Other injury concerns saw HSBC Waratahs prop Sekope Kepu leave the field during the second half with an ankle injury, while NSW skipper Phil Waugh also came off in the closing stages.

The victory marks Sydney University’s fifth straight premiership, following on from yesterday’s win in the top two grades of Colts. The Students also won the 2009 Gregor George Cup (Club Championship), ES Marks Shield (First Grade Minor Premiers), Sir Roden Cutler Shield (Home Game Champions – 11 defences) and the Eric Spilsted Memorial Shield (Colts Club Championship).Sydney University 24 (Nathan Charles, Nick Edwards, Mitch Inman tries; Daniel Halangahu 2 cons, drop) d Randwick 19 (Drew Mitchell, Marshall Milroy tries; Marshall Milroy 3 pens) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Stuart Dickinson. HT: Sydney University 14-11

Colin Caird Shield Grand Final (2nd Grade)

EASTERN SUBURBS V GORDON

Eastern Suburbs scored an upset victory over minor premiers Sydney University to qualify for the Colin Caird Shield Grand Final and went on with the job to claim the title with a 32-29 victory over Gordon.

Each side scored four tries, however Easts had established their winning break well before the final margin ended at just three points.

The game took on a typically combative Grand Final feel in the opening half, however a surge of points to both teams in the final ten minutes saw the sides locked at 15-all at half-time.

Eastern Suburbs then put the foot down, scoring the next two tries through James Rowles and Sam Windsor to establish a 32-15 lead.

Gordon scored a try with ten minutes to go to keep their hopes alive, however the Beasts were able to control enough possession so not even a consolation try in the dying stages could deny an Easts premiership.

Eastern Suburbs 32 (Joe Azar, Ben Hopkins, James Rowles, Sam Windsor tries; Warwick Percival 3 cons, 2 pens) d Gordon 29 (Luke Duncan, Greg Wade, Dustin McGregor, Josh Whittaker tries; Donny Nepia 3 cons, pen) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: James Leckie. HT: 15-all.

JR Henderson Shield Grand Final (3rd Grade)

GORDON V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY

Gordon has turned the 2009 minor premiership into Grand Final victory with a 6-3 result over Sydney University to claim the JR Henderson Shield for the second straight year.

Defence and tactical kicking dominated the clash with any attacking opportunities snuffed out well by both teams.

Dan Nieass kicked two from five penalty goals for the Highlanders, while Hayden Bushell scored the only points for the Students.

Gordon 6 (Dan Nieass 2 pens) d Sydney University 3 (Hayden Bushell pen) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Callan O’Neill. HT:  Gordon 6-0

JR Henderson Cup Grand Final (4th Grade)

RANDWICK V WEST HARBOUR

Randwick scored a try in the second last minute of play to claim the 2009 Henderson Cup in a one-point thriller against West Harbour.

After the defending champions and minor premiers crossed early through giant centre Iosua Leasusu, West Harbour hit back with three tries to take a 19-8 lead into the break.

Midway through the second half Randwick scored their second try to get within four points of the lead, however it took until the 59th minute for the crucial score to come when Tim Satiu ploughed over in the left corner.

Randwick 20 (Iosua Leasusa, Maraki Toa, Tim Satiu tries; Dale Lindsay con, pen) d West Harbour 19 (Luke Schafer, Mana Vi, Taani Kaliti tries; Luke Schafer 2 cons) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Guy Grinham. HT: West Harbour 19-8.

Randwick will take on Sydney University in the Shute Shield Grand Final next Sunday (Sep 27) after downing Gordon 53-32 at Woollahra this afternoon.

Sydney University will line up for yet another Tooheys New Shute Shield title defence after defeating Eastwood 37-13 in today’s Preliminary Final at Concord Oval.

While Eastwood were in far better form than that when they showed when they went down by 74 points to the Students a fortnight ago, they were no match for the defending champions and minor premiers who built the victory on the back of a great defensive effort. Both sides enjoyed similar amounts of possession and territory, however Uni were able to make the most of their opportunities in the five tries to two victory.

The ball went back and forward between the two sides in the opening exchanges, and while Daniel Halangahu missed a penalty attempt early on he made up for it with a converted try from close range in the 15th minute.

The HSBC Waratahs flyhalf added another two penalties to open up a 13-0 lead which they looked like taking to the break after sustaining an extended period of Eastwood attack on the Uni line.

However just when it looked like they had cleared their territory to hold onto the margin half-time, a quick tap from 40m out inside the last minute saw Damien Fitzpatrick streak away for a try in the left corner.

James Foote’s conversion attempt hit the upright – the third kick to hit the woodwork after two earlier unsuccessful penalty attempts by Halangahu – leaving the minor premiers with a 13-5 lead.

Eastwood opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty to Foote, however the Students piled on the pressure with some great phase play soon after and eventually Halangahu turned an inside ball back to his captain Tim Davidson to score untouched. Halangahu then added the extras for a 20-8 lead.

The Woodies threatened to hit back throughout the middle stages of the half, however Uni’s goal line defence proved in penetrable, and when they had their next opportunity in attacking position a huge overlap saw Perth-bound centre Mitch Inman cross for the Students’ third try to all but seal the win.

Eastwood didn’t give in, but after another attack on the Uni line the Students again brought the ball down the other end of the field where Ben McCalman scored.

Uni crossed again through Tom Carter, before a consolation try to Lachlan McCaffrey on the bell saw the Students take out the Preliminary Final 37-13.

The Students will now face the winner of tomorrow’s Preliminary Final between Randwick and Gordon in next Sunday’s Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final.

First Preliminary Final
Sydney University 30 (Daniel Halangahu, Tim Davidson, Mitch Inman, Ben McCalman tries; Daniel Halangahu 2 cons, 2 pens) d Eastwood 8 (Damien Fitzpatrick try; James Foote pen) at Concord Oval. Referee: Steve Walsh. HT: Sydney University 13-5.

LOWER GRADES
In Second Grade, Eastern Suburbs pulled off a big upset to be the first side into the Colin Caird Shield Grand Final by defeating Sydney University 24-21. The Students had won the minor premiership by 22 points and lost just one match during the season before going down in the Preliminary Final.

Minor premiers and defending premiers both advanced to the Grand Finals in third and fourth grades, with Gordon overcoming West Harbour 8-5 in the JR Henderson Shield, while Randwick defeated the Highlanders 24-8 in the JR Henderson Cup.

At Forshaw Rugby Park Sydney University set up a triple premiership defence in Colts with all three grades victorious.

Concord Oval
Colin Caird Shield (2nd Grade): Eastern Suburbs 24 d Sydney University 21
JR Henderson Shield (3rd Grade): Gordon 8 d West Harbour 6
JR Henderson Cup (4th Grade): Randwick 24 d Gordon 8

Woollahra Oval
W.McMahon Memorial Shield (Colts I): Sydney University 41 d Eastern Suburbs 22
Shell Trophy (Colts II): Sydney University 39 d West Harbour 14
Colts III: Sydney University 50 d West Harbour 7

Sydney University 37 def Eastwood 13

Uni to play the winner of Sunday's semi between Randwick and Gordon in the Grand Final on Sep 27.

Three tries in quick succession after half-time has sent Eastwood into a Grand Final qualifier after overcoming Manly 32-21 at Forshaw Rugby Park.

Trailing by a point at the break, Eastwood scored 19 points in even time to start the second half with 2008 Australian Schoolboy teammates Tim Bennetts and Cameron Mitchell starring in the win.

Four straight losses to the Marlins and a 74-point last start defeat to Eastwood meant both sides went into the clash out of form, however it was evident from the early exchanges that recent results would count for little.

Against the run of play, Bennetts set up the opening try of the match after a break from well inside the Eastwood half before, offloading to Mitchell who scored out wide.

James Foote converted then added a penalty in the 18th minute to open up a 10-0 lead.

Two minutes later Manly centre John Payne was held up over the line, however Brian Sefanaia crossed for a converted try shortly after to close the margin to three.

Manly continued to apply the pressure and a short range try near the posts to Eddie Aholelei saw the Marlins take the lead, with Adam D’Arcy’s second successful conversion opening up a four-point break.

The Marlins looked to be well on top and were looking to apply another score before the break, however in the dying stages Tom Alexander broke from inside his own half and an infringement at the ensuing breakdown allowed Foote to reduce the margin to one.

The match broke open in the opening 15 minutes of the second half with Eastwood crossing three times in the defining period of the match.

First, quick hands through the backline put Mitchell across in the left corner for a double, before Bennetts was untouched over more than 50m to score a runaway try.

When Sione Piukala stepped through traffic from short range to score, Foote’s conversion took Eastwood to a 32-14 lead.

Manly looked to start a comeback, and when Chilean international Cristobal Westenenk crossed for a converted try, the Marlins still had a chance going into the last ten minutes.

However Eastwood were able to control enough of the ball and were more accurate in their kicking game to close out the match and earn a Preliminary Final berth against Sydney University at Concord Oval next Saturday.

Next Sunday’s Preliminary Final will see Randwick face Gordon after the Highlanders defeated Warringah 27-10 yesterday at Pittwater Rugby Park.

Second Elimination Semi-Final
Eastwood 32 (Cameron Mitchell 2, Tim Bennetts, Sione Piukala tries; James Foote 3 cons, 2 pens) d Manly 21 (Brian Sefanaia, Eddie Aholelei, Cristobal Westenenk tries; Adam D’Arcy 3 cons) at Forshaw Rugby Park. Referee: Nathan Pearce. HT: Manly 14-13.

LOWER GRADES

Forshaw Rugby Park
Colin Caird Shield (2nd Grade): Eastern Suburbs 48 d Manly 29
JR Henderson Shield (3rd Grade): West Harbour 14 d Manly 13
JR Henderson Cup (4th Grade): Gordon 44 d Manly 22

Woollahra Oval
W.McMahon Memorial Shield (Colts I): Eastern Suburbs 39 d Gordon 10
Shell Trophy (Colts II): West Harbour 31 d Eastwood 8
Colts III: West Harbour 28 d Randwick 13