Certainty in government, no franking credits and supposed less taxes. These were cemented in last Saturday’s federal election. However there is no better place to be on a late autumn Saturday than the SUFG. Southern Districts were University’s opposition and the crowd were treated to a 50-10 victory to the Students.
Very early a five metre University scrum saw the power of the University eight on show as they bulldozed their way over the line for half back Daniel Calavassy to score.
Both teams were admittedly cautious in their play. Scores failed to reach double figures midway through the half as play was tighter than a Best and Less budgey smuggler.
University did decide to cut loose just before the halftime break when Calavassy combined with his winger Nathaniel Tamwoy down a blindside for a neat try. Orator, debater and fullback James Kane converted the try for the Students to go into the break with a lead of 15-3.
The ten minute break must have been sufficient for the Rebels brains trust to issue the Kim Jong-un edict to score first! Souths commenced the second half with enterprising ball movement. Some loose marking by University inside their quarter was exploited by Souths. Their nippy halfback De Wet Roos stepped through a gap and scored a good try under the posts. 15-10 and the crowd would have thought it was game on for the second half.
But this opening of points for the Rebels had the effect of jolting University that it was now time to roll up their sleeves to apply their tradecraft. The ball was regathered by the University backline just inside the Rebels half. University inside centre Will McDonnell then saw an opportunity when he sighted and went through a mid field gap. Trailing the nuggety Red terrier was the Rottweiler the menacing breakaway with the name from the Kingdom of Camelot Nick Champion de Crespigny. The big breakaway wound up and there was no stopping him! The legs were striding out and Champion de Crespigny made a rampaging thirty five metre run to score a spectacular try beneath the posts. With a conversion University were now ahead 22-10.
Things did not get any easier for the Rebels soon after. Will McDonnell once again engineered an impressive try. Charging down a Souths kick McDonnell regathered the ball mid air. McDonnell accelerated down the field and this time trailing him was winger Tamwoy. McDonnell text book drew the covering defence to then offload for Tamwoy to complete the sequence. A 29-10 lead and Souths were feeling that grinding pressure indicative of the Students.
This came in the form of a penalty try for repeated scrum infringements to elevate the score line to 36-10. There was no stopping the Students as they went into overdrive. Replacement centre Ben Hughes scored after a regather of a Harry Potter kick.
43-10 was showing on the scoreboard and the half ton was about to be cracked. This soon came to fruition. Like his name the elusive winger Potter showed magical powers to just glide through gaps a mere mortal could never achieve. Through a tight head scrum win Potter zig zagged through a phalanx of Souths players. The crowd was bewildered on these running skills as Potter scored the final converted try for an excellent victory of 50-10.
The impressive win did not go unnoticed. Guest of the club last Saturday was former Japanese national team physiotherapist and current Japan Rugby Football Union board member overseeing medical and marketing Ms Akiko Shindo. Ms Shindo could not leave Camperdown without praise for what she saw. “There is speed and aggression and the University scrum is strong and low which impresses me. The second half intercept try was just spectacular!”
University enjoy their bye next weekend, following the break Colts battle Randwick under lights on Friday 7 June at University while grade travel to Coogee Oval the next day.