Sydney University
At Woollahra Oval
25 August 2025
By Bruce China Lin
There was a bag of mixed results over the weekend with University enjoying three grand finals for next week. Colts two and three had significant victories on Saturday. Seconds, thirds and fourths were up against quality opposition on Sunday. The club’s thirsty thirds came away with a solid 29-7 victory over Gordon.
There was no sense of *widdendream in the team under the captaincy of club veteran Jack McCalman who may well be saying au revoir from the Students next week as he retires to his rocking chair on the verandah of his little house on the prairies of Cumnock at seasons end.
University were in control for the majority of the game with scintillating tries and clever field position constructed by ball wizard five eighth Olly Schmude. When the going got tough Jack McCalman at breakaway constructed turnovers to relieve pressure. At the end University comfortably won with hooker Sam Roediger skirting down the golf course side to swan dive into the corner to book a date with Eastern Suburbs next Saturday at Leichhardt oval.
Well done to coaches the big marn Ray Hudd, Byron Hodge and the man with the thick Scottish brogue that requires subtitles at half time Matthew Clarke. The mission is not over and the holy grail is just around the corner next week.
The main game second grade appeared to have University on destiny to join their thirds brothers. They commenced at a cracking pace with ruthless rucking inside the Manly quarter. Secondrower Angus Allen and breakaway Mali Manukia were on a mission to run over the top of their opposition. The forward dominance of University saw them ahead 21-0 but two innocuous tries from Manly saw the halftime score 21-10 favouring the Students.
University continued their dominance after half time with a cracking try constructed by speedster winger Will Perkins. Perkins regathered a clearing kick from five eighth Henry James and raced down the touchline. In his support was outside centre Tom Morrison who continued at pace for a converted try to increase their lead to 28-10.
But for reasons that would baffle a Tibetan soothsayer, University failed to capitalize on this lead. Manly received a few good bounces and field position to start mounting a quick comeback. Tries were scored and soon they were only trailing 28-24. It was if University was succumbing to Superman’s primary weakness kryptonite as the Students could not repel the waves of Marlin attack. Trailing 31-36 with twenty minutes still left the game was still in the balance. But a wicked bounce inside the University quarter saw Manly pick up the scraps to score their final try to end the day 41-31.
It was indeed not the ideal ending for University after such a promising start. However it just drives the club to go one better next season. Well done to all the players, coaches Ryan Burge , Albert Jensen and managers Irish-South African oracle Kieron Devlin and Gavin the juvenile Crawford.
All roads lead to Leichhardt Oval next Saturday for third grades game and the following day at Coogee Oval for the colts finale.
Up the Students!
*Widdendream –An uncommon Scottish term describes a state of mental agitation or confusion.