Sydney University
At the Grand Finals
30-31 August 2025
By Bruce China Lin
Every club players goal came to fruition for a number on the weekend where grand finals were held for third grade ,seconds and third colts. The culmination of nearly a year longs preseason and games culminated on their date with destiny at inner west Leichhardt oval.
Unfortunately for the therapeutic thirds their mission fell short by a dental floss width losing to Eastern Suburbs 22-21.
The game started like thunder being unleashed with Easts monopolizing possession and territory. University still held firm despite minimal ball. Easts secured an early penalty which proved significant later.
But eventually the youthful students secured field position inside the Easts quarter and University’s first try was scored by that man who wakes up every Sunday morning experiencing *somnambulism after a big Saturday at the rugby tight head prop Joe Morris.
A five metre attacking line out was formed. As the ball was brought down Morris drove with his pack towards the goal line. Morris ran hard from the back of the maul and pierced through a seam to dive over with accompanying tumultuous applause from his team mates and University supporters. The Olly Schmude conversion now had University leading 7-3.
But things got even better a few minutes later. After weathering Easts come back University once again secured a lineout within the Easts quarter. On this occasion rucks and recycling was required and who better to bring home the points than Captain breakaway Jack McCalman.
In probably his swansong from the club McCalman picked the ball from a ruck and darted like a bush turkey through another gap to score again. The Schmude conversion increased the lead to 14-3 and after weathering a barrage at the start University had now discovered their rhythm.
Easts were focused on reversing the scoreline and attacked at every opportunity. Sturdy defence and some luck allowed University to preserve this scoreline until the end of the first half. A sweeping backline movement towards the hill corner gave Easts an overlap to score in the corner. It was unconverted and the halftime scoreline was 14-8 in favour of University.
Easts were stung and recommenced the second half applying enormous pressure on the Students who had the aid of a swirling breeze behind them. But a few mistakes gave Easts their chances and once inside the University quarter and five metre zone they punished the blue and gold. With University down a man with a sin binning two quick tries were scored with commensurate conversions and University were now trailing 22-14.
There was still ample time left but Easts were holding firm frustrating any buildup of meaningful attack by the Students. With the game clock running down Olly Schmude decided he had to take risks. Receiving a ball off a ruck Schmude ran towards the hill but in doing so feigned a kick which confused the Easts defence moving up. Schmude saw a gap emerge took off and linked with his supports. As a ruck was formed inside the Easts five metre area the ball was rapidly shifted to the open. Fullback Tom Bull made an extra man and scored to the left of the upright. The wide conversion was nailed by Schmude and scoreline was 22-21in favour of Easts.
The few minutes remaining was a game of high stakes poker with each side not giving much away. Luck did not befall the Students and Easts held to see out the match with a scrum win punted into the stands. How fortuitous the early penalty taken as both sides scored three tries apiece.
Well done to the thirds on reaching the grand final some for first time. A big thank you to coaches Hudd, Clarke and Hodge for all their efforts in getting their team to the penultimate game but agonizingly falling short. No side can do everything without managers so to the dad’s army of managers Ross Ryan, Greg Smyth, Scott Fraser and young Jimmy Summerhayes thank you for your assistance.
Third grade colt’s brought home the Bill Simpson Shield in their emphatic 41-10 victory over Randwick.
University started the game in overdrive with a shift to the beach side corner in the first minute resulting in fullback Vili Vunipola to bustle over for a try. Winger John Cameron-Murphy converted and the blue and gold’s were off to a great start.
Randwick soon hit back with rucking inside the University five metre area. Their pack was dominant and it was no surprise that their big prop crashed over.
But young Vili Vunipola was on a mission. Randwick fumbled their ball following the kickoff at a lineout. University picked up the scrappy ball and some recycling saw Vunipola run hard to dive over adjacent to the posts. The try was unconverted but the Students were ahead 12-5. Randwick did score another forward influenced try whilst University took advantage of a penalty to see out the first half 15-10. Randwick traditionally a running club was in fact dominant in the forward exchanges whilst the Students were giving the ball ample width and breadth.
The second half did not witness any renaissance comeback by Randwick. Wave after wave of University attacks resulted in points. When replacement Henry Guest came on he was literally on the field for no more than thirty seconds to score a try from a five metre rolling maul. Randwick were suffering from battle fatigue as University never relented despite having a man sent to the sin bin.
University rumbled down the paddock shifting the ball left and right and through the centre. The forwards were exhausting Randwick. With a bouffant of hair more luxurious than a thick berber rug, prop Wyatt Van Dongen was salivating taking the ball up through the middle. That lanky young man with the name from the cast of a BBC spy thriller Ollie Dudley-Smith was winning good ball at the set piece. Randwick was spent and University walked out winners 41-10.
Second grade colts started like a mirror image of thirds but this time Randwick were explosive out of the sheds. University had no counter to the green momentum and soon they were ahead14-0. Winger Cooper Edwards was the only try scorer for University which was converted by inside centre Archie Matthews son of Ruth, brother of Jack, grandson to Julia and grandnephew to uncle Neville. University were down 33-7 at half time and for non followers of the game this seemed a daunting assignment against a formidable Randwick. But rugby is a funny game and the second half was not without its moments of drama.
Whatever was said at halftime worked as University scored points early when a loose bobbing ball inside Randwick territory was toed through and scored under the posts by the light footed winger Kami Tuqalo. The half was a roller coaster of incidents and tries where at one stage two Randwick players were off field for a yellow and a red card leaving them with only thirteen men. University with the numerical advantage had culled the deficit to only 45-42 with a minute left.
With a scrum set University had a final opportunity to mount a daring long range raid inside the Randwick half to score. But as the ball was shifted from the scrumbase to the open a lurking Randwick player intercepted the ball before it could be received by University causing a gasps across the ground as the Randwick player laid the ball over the line without a hand touching him. The conversion was abandoned as Randwick supporters ran onto the field eager to get into the group photo shot after the game. 50-42 was the final scoreline and congratulations to Randwick for winning the 2025 Shell Shield.
A fine effort to the majority of first year students who have started their club career in colts. Congratulations to all the players,coaching and volunteer managers for their sterling efforts in 2025. Colts may be the start of one’s rugby career after leaving school. However years ago one Nick Phipps started in University’s third grade colts and ended up a Wallaby. Stick with the club and you shall reap the benefits later in your careers.
Thank you to all the coaching staff, managers, medical and volunteer staff for 2025. It is collective effort to have a club function at a high level. Your efforts are much appreciated.
A new era beckons in 2026 with retirements and inclusions. May you enjoy an enjoyable, relaxing and safe off season. Perhaps a recharge holiday somewhere or just enjoy a succulent Chinese meal with friends and family at a restaurant? But come November it is pre season to rip in and start your journeys again.
Up the Students!!
*Somnambulism –A fancy catch all word for the abnormal motor functions you might perform in your sleep, such as sleep walking, sleep showering or sleep blogging.