Sydney University
Vs
Warringah
By Bruce ‘China’ Lin
4 May 2024
At approximately 73 minutes of elapsed time again University allowed their opponents to build momentum with unnecessary scores. Warringah behind for the majority of the game whittled the Students lead and eventually winning by 29-26.
University started on the right note stifling Warringah inside their half. Some brutal forward play allowed returning second rower Clem Halaholo to ram over for a converted try.
Warringah later kicked a long range penalty to trail 7-3. The penalty will later be rued by University later.
Half way through the half Warringah secured a five metre lineout. Like cunning green rodents a rehearsed move saw the ball received short in the lineout. The ball was paddled back to the blind side and University were well and truly hoodwinked allowing Warringah an easy converted try to lead 10-7.
A few minutes later University worked their way for a five metre lineout.The maul splintered. When the ball was rucked it was second rower big Clem Haloholo again who burrowed over to score a converted try. But the Clem show just got better . University on the cusp of halftime were pressing inside the Warringah quarter. Big Clem secured the ball again and smashed his way over the line for his hatrick to have the Students ahead at half time 21-10.
The second half started perfectly for University. Inside their half an utterly ingenious kick was orchestrated by five eighth Sam Bignold. The kick was so good that Bignold’s mother Sharon could be heard exclaiming from the stands that he would be receiving a t bone steak with his brussel sprouts for dinner later.
From a scrum Bignold instead of hoisting the ball Garryowen style delicately chipped ahead to be collected on the full by the rampaging outside centre Henry Clunies-Ross on his 100th first grade game. Although a man with a seniors discount card waiting to be activated Clunies-Ross took off and shifted it to his flank. Fullback Jack Matthews ran through and passed to his wingman winger George Clark on his first grade debut. Clark took off like a road runner down the far flank to score an excellent try. 26-10 was the lead but like a cliché anything can happen!.
With ten minutes remaining some pressure inside the University quarter saw a moment of broken field ad lib play by Warringah. A rush down the grandstand side saw the ball turned back inside for a try stepping through the desperate University covering defence. University were still ahead 26-17 with seven minutes left. Then as if a hex was placed on University the witching hour * once again befell the Students.
Breakaway Sam Allsopp was yellow carded for a collapsing a maul. Another five metre lineout saw a try which was unconverted. Scores reflected 26-22 favouring University but all the momentum was with Warringah. This was so evident in the next attacking phase by Warringah.
Warringah’s fullback Ben Marr put a support through a gap that looked questionable. The ball was kicked ahead but some fumbling in the in goal by University gifted a converted try to Warringah. University and their supporters were shell shocked whilst Warringah were a collective bacchanal * cohort.
Next week University are at home gain against the bruising blue collar men from the Hunter Wildfires.
*witching hour – The witching hour is believed to be the time when supernatural events are most likely to occur, and witches, demons, fairies, and ghosts are the most powerful.
*bacchanal – A reveller or drunkard.