Sydney University
Vs
Eastern Suburbs
10 May 2025
By Bruce China Lin
There was a sea of vibrancy and beauty on show last Saturday at Camperdown. University ran Eastern Suburbs down to the wire in front of a large Ladies Day contingent. Down 33-14 at halftime and you could not blame spectators to think oh well! But the second half was a metamorphosis where University attacked incessantly.
The first half was watching a cheese souffle fail to rise as Easts piled on the points early. Tries were scored all too easily through exploiting overlaps, gaps and pressuring the Students defensive line. Easts were leading 14-0 fifteen minutes into the half when University decided to engage from neutral. A rush down the northern blindside saw the ball go through hands. Debut centre Lukas Ripley made an incision and then a combination between breakaway Sam Allsopp and second rower Clem Halaholo was executed. Halaholo with his large boots that a retail store would not stock, proceeded to thunder towards the goal line. Stopped short the big chap popped a ball back to Allsopp who sprinted over the line for a converted try.
But Easts continued dishing out the punishment. It seemed whenever they entered the University quarter or five metre zone their big forwards would smash over. Easts increased their scoreline to 33-7. On the cusp of half time a looping ball to the right wing by five eighth Henry James saw fullback James Kane dive over for a converted try.
University had suffered a dose of battle fatigue in the first forty minutes. The side needed to recompose and focus on what they could do best and they did not disappoint after the break.
Like their opponents in the first half University unleashed a stinging try after only two minutes. Inside the Easts quarter the ball was swung wide. Winger Jack Matthews gave a short ball to fullback Kane making the extra man. Kane with his experience as an actor, hand model and dancer applied an abridged in and away to confuse the defenders. Kane sensing that he would be clobbered sensibly passed to Ripley who ran away to score an excellent try to now trail 33-19. University continued to attack and another wide try was scored by winger Benjy Joseland.
But like the late night television commercials there was more! Pressuring Easts inside their five metre area again the ball was rucked and then spread wide. This time winger Jack Matthews son of Ruth scored in the corner.
But Easts extinguished the *obnixely of the Students when they intercepted a ball when all in attendance expected University to continue their attacking mission.
The Students were desperate to peg back the deficit and again Joseland came into play. Attacking inside the Easts quarter again the ball was swung wide through the hands. The ball movement was superb with accurate passes and running lines. Kane made the extra man and timed his pass for the machine Joseland to score. The try was unconverted and there was still a gap of four points. A try could win it and there was a dental floss width of time still left.
University continued attacking inside the Easts half and a series of penalties allowed University to maintain their momentum. University supporters heart rates were elevated to dangerous levels. It was full time but a small reprieve was bestowed a five metre line out. The ball was thrown but some mistake that only a soothsayer could predict was detected and the game was called full time for it to end in a narrow victory to Easts.
A game of two halves and a momentous come back which was stopped agonisingly all too soon.
Clem Halaholo summed up the what if hypothetical.”It’s those small moments we should win which would have swung the game over to us.”
Next week University are still at home against their recent bogey side the Western Sydney Two Blues.
*Obnixely – earnestly,strenuously, have fun.