Match Report - First Grade v Sydney Uni April 17

First Grade Report Sydney University 47 – Parramatta 0

What a difference a week can make. Saturday’s Telegraph carried a story titled “Thrashed 111-0, but ready for battle again”. Our First XV stood tall on Saturday. While it’s nice to say we are going to do better, with Uni coming off a loss to Randwick and being five times consecutive champions, I doubted they would be feeling compassionate.

At the 18 minute mark Uni were only ahead 5-0 and it didn’t look like it was going to be a rout.   Parra were not giving the Uni boys any space. Ben Faingaa our number 4 was driving and cleaning out well and new recruit Richard Just was making some good hits and displayed he is going to have an impact. A loose head at 6 foot 4 and 115 kilos with aggression and speed off the mark, I think he will do well.

The Parra boys were willing and showing Uni they weren’t going to be a push over. A penalty was awarded and Uni opted to kick the goal instead of tapping and running, taking the score to 8-0. At 4 minutes to half time close to our 22, Uni’s half Matt Schwaggger dummied and crossed our line. Uni went to the break with a 15-0 lead.

At half-time Coach Hartill spoke again about taking the space and that our  forwards needed to take the momentum forward when they were hit on the ground to get over the ball.

We didn’t start the second half as well as Coach Hartill would have liked and it wasn’t long before Uni put another try into us to make the score 20 Nil and Coach Hartill was heard to mutter "That's disappointing".  Our Number 8 Maile Latukefu who had been playing well all game started to find another level and inspired some good ranging runs with excellent exchanges between Maile, Andrew Cox and John Fonua.

Ricky Williams got his first yellow card, apparently for repeated offside infringements. Brendan Lane displayed strength at the back with strong defence and showed a good chip and chase and taking the recipient catcher to the ground.

Parra had Uni going back. However, with less than 2 minutes to go, Uni spread the ball wide and Ricky Williams moved in and made a bone crushing tackle on this opposite number. His only sin was that he didn’t use his arms. In Rugby League he would be a hero, in Union he was given the red card. From the ensuing penalty Uni kicked deep and with good lead up work got a late try to conclude the scoring. Full time 47 -0.

Match photos here.

Thommo