Sydney University
Vs
Hunter Wildfires
By Bruce ‘China’ Lin
13 July 2024
The two hour road trip up on the M1 motorway is always a test for those visiting Newcastle, the steel city. But after a slow start probably due to stopping at the Wyong road stop for thirty McDonalds Happy Meals, University combined some flair, disciplined and ad lib play to run out victors 43-29 against the Hunter Wildfires.
Hunter had all the possession during the initial ten minutes accruing a 10-0 lead with a penalty and converted try. University registered points soon after with a series of controlled picking and driving inside the Hunter quarter. The Hunter wall was breached after number eight Jack McCalman resembling his father Andy during the thick of battle in a past century burrowed through a ruck to score a converted try to trail 10-7.
A lapse in concentration in the midfield allowed Hunter another moment in the lead with a 17-7 scoreline. From then on it was a sustained period for University to redefine their game plan and rack up some points. Winger James Kane was the recipient of rapid passing to score in the grandstand corner. A clever diagonal kick saw opposite winger Jack Matthews also score for University to now lead 19-17 twenty minutes into the first half.
Then in his best game to date inside centre Eddie Poolman non chalantly received an innocuous ball inside the Wildfires quarter. In his trademark straight running Poolman then morphed into a virtual pin ball bouncing off opposition players. With superhuman strength that only kryptonite could stop, Poolman crashed over with never a hair follicle displaced for the Students to lead 26-17. At halftime University had a bonus point in the bag.
The coach’s worst nightmare befell Hunter just after the break when University scored three minutes into the game. University were attacking and a loose ball knocked back allowed play to continue. This was the curtain call for winger James Kane to perform on stage again.
Reprising his vicissitude * role as a soccer mad red head in the Kazakhstan film classic Bend it like Borat, Kane toed the ball towards the corner to effortlessly plant the ball for another try. The University points kept on coming with further tries including a double by Jack McCalman. Hunter did manage to score four tries but it was not enough to peg back the University lead.
Next week University are back at Camperdown for another encounter with the West Harbour Pirates.
*Vicissitude- a change of circumstance affecting one’s life.