Sydney University
Vs
Western Sydney Two Blues.
26 July 2025
By Bruce China Lin
Round 16 of the Shute Shield saw University trek to the Eric Tweedale stadium Granville to see if they could overcome their recent run of bad luck against their western Sydney opponents.
Tantamount to finding a Chinese take away meal without * MSG , University finally broke the curse of rugby’s Bermuda triangle by defeating the Two Blues 31-28 in a tight affair.
There was no slackening from both teams for the first quarter of the half. University’s lean machine were up against a big bulky Two Blues fifteen laced with typical south pacific flair. However at the twenty minute mark University raised first points on the scoreboard.
University were recycling rapidly and allowing the ball some breadth and width. A shift along the hands to the eastern touchline saw a half break by tight head Brad Amituanai. A rapid second phase shift gave five eighth Sam Bignold to put his support breakaway Will Gibson through a gap. Gibson energised by a pregame carbo load of his mother’s Cornish pastie outsprinted the covering defence to score. The try was uncoverted but University were finally on the board at 5-0.
Ten minutes it took for the Two Blues to exact a counter. Following a lineout their massive tight head prop Hunt made a prodigious surge to the line. Drawing defenders the size of * lilliputians the ball was passed through the hands and their big Fijian centre Moceidreke was able to bust over the line for a converted try.
But University were not content to draft along before half time. From the kickoff a Two Blues punt was received by fullback Jack Matthews. Matthews tip toes downfield to set up a ruck. With the ball going open the University forwards decided to embrace the occasion.
Hooker Ethan Dobbins put Amituanai into a gap. Big Brad thundered downfield and offloaded to supports. A recycle from half back Olly Schmude saw secondrower Dane Terekia make another bust. An immediate blindside shift allowed outside centre Ronan Leahy to dive over for an excellent converted try.
But every coaches joy and indigestion before halftime arrived with some aggressive rucking seeing another University try before halftime for a 19-7 lead.
The second half saw the Two Blues score first with a try that required one of our opthamologist supporters to offer their services pro bono.
The Two Blues inside their half applied some typical Pacific islander flair with ad lib running. University were bamboozled with the stepping and weaving. The final pass appeared noticeably forward however a try was allowed which was converted. University were still ahead 19-14 but for how long?
The Two Blues were not in the mood to procrastinate. Again some spectacular ball movements were executed. The ball was kept alive and when passed to the open a gap appeared and their big number eight powered through for another converted try. University were now behind 21-19 and had a challenge to break their long drought against the Two Blues.
Then in almost *xertz like fashion Brad Amituanai decided he wanted a taste of glory. A five metre line out was brought down. Amituanai was not part of the lineout in probably a set move. From deep Amituanai ran hard and breached the defence. With only one man standing before him he executed a Riverdance step and jig for a swan dive try. 26-21 University were now ahead. But again the undulating scoreline continued.
Pressing inside the University quarter the Two Blues ran a rather innocuous ball up. But the chunky forward with the ball somehow threw off University defenders for a rather simple try to lead of 28-26.
With their season on a precipice University did not show the white flag and continued attacking . Pressure applied inside the five metre zone saw Will Gibson score his second try of the day. Scavenging off a ruck Gibson saw a gap and ran through for University’s final converted try to lead 31-28 during the latter stages of the half.
However the Two Blues fought to the end and there were white knuckle moments. University were using up the clock but the Two Blues gained possession for a final fling with thirty seconds left only to see a spilt ball end the match with a 31-28 University victory. University is still alive for ’25 .
Head coach Todd Louden was happy for the win but not without some moments of concern.”The players wanted to win today as it’s been a long time against the Two Blues. We wanted to just stop the rot. Some penalties and decisions were a bit dubious. It was ugly but we got the win.”
Next week the ultimate test will be against the competition leaders Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra oval.
*Xertz– To greedily gulp down a drink.
*Lilliputians– Extremely small, tiny,diminutive.