Sydney University
Vs
Hunter Wildfires
3 May 2025
By Bruce China Lin
Last Saturday was to define our political pathway for the next three years and also devouring a democracy sausage at the thousands of polling booths across the country. There was also the business of rugby and unfortunately a combination of errors and ill discipline were not conducive to a University victory at Newcastle No:2 sportsground. University suffered a loss to the Hunter Wildfires 48-34.
A Newcastle charge down try in the first ten minutes set the agenda. The score line fluctuated more than the Dear leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s Kim Jong Un’s belly girth as University hit back to lead then allow Hunter to override them with relatively easy tries. Two sin binnings for unnecessary breaches prior to the end of the first half did not help the Students cause and they were fortunate to be only behind at half time 24-20.
The M1 road trip is generally a two hour excursion to reach the leafy Newcastle Sports ground. Head coach Todd Louden’s daughter Keira an ambassador for the forthcoming Ladies Day rates the inspiring tunes from the ground public address whilst quaffing an alcoholic beverage at a legal age.
The second half actually started brightly for University. Still with a man in the bin University commenced to build up phases inside the Hunter quarter. Some solid rucking was forcing Hunter to back pedal. Then after a series of thunderous rucks hooker Declan Moore reprised his lucrative *quomodocunquizing casual employment as a North American Bison by surging through a loosely marked ruck stampeding towards the line for a converted try.
But Hunter were like a thorn in the side taking full advantage of University’s misdemeanours and soft penalties to be in a position lead once more. An intercept pass near full time flattered the score line but no team can win by giving away soft penalties mistakes and being binned. Head coach Louden was succinct in his post match debrief. “All of us today did not aim up. We beat ourselves today.”
Next week at home University have a huge battle against last years premiers Eastern Suburbs on Ladies Day. With dry conditions forecast against a strong opposition expect an absolute fierce battle.
*Quomodocunquizing – making money in any way you can.