2nd Grade (Colin Caird Shield)
Sydney Uni 68 def. Parramatta 26
3rd Grade (Henderson Shield)
Sydney Uni 65 def. Parramatta 14
4th Grade (Henderson Cup)
Sydney Uni 64 def. Parramatta 14
1st Colts (W.McMahon Memorial Shield)
By Rob Taylor (Coach)
I was pleased with the performance in the closing round robin game, we may have disrespected possession a few times but those mental errors can easily be fixed, the moments where we were 100%, we played some extremely sharp rugby that most teams would find hard to defend. A few of the tries we scored will certainly feature on the highlights reel. Notable performances were by Josh Kemeny and Ed King, with everyone else a close second.
I was impressed by Parramatta as well, they have come a long way in 12 months and will be even better in 2018.
There were a few milestones achieved on Saturday as the regular season concluded:
- 1st Colts have gone back to back undefeated regular seasons.
- Ed King finished top try scorer in any level of Colts or Grade with 24 tries.
- Daniel Poletto finished with the most conversions of any goal kicker in Colts or Grade level with 77 successful conversions.
- 7 2017 Colts players made their starting debut for 1st Grade this season. With all but one of them featuring in more than one game and most pleasing is that they all influential in the 1st Grade performance, they certainly were not making up the numbers.
- We scored more points and had less points scored against us than the previous 2015 or 2016 Colts.
- Only team in Colts or Grade level to be undefeated.
Now the real stuff starts and the above will become a distant memory. We are expecting a tougher final series then 2016, a few other teams have been more consistent in selection and performance then previous years and have some red hot talent. We are hungry for the challenge and we have a team that really thrives on big pressure.
Sydney Uni 66 def. Parramatta 17
2nd Colts (Shell Trophy)
Sydney Uni 36 def. Parramatta 18
3rd Colts (Bill Simpson Shield)
By Gabriel Enright (Coach)
The final round versus Parramatta proved a bridge too far for 3rd Colts going down 12 points to 26 at the hands of resurgent Two Blues side who are coming home with a wet sail having qualified for the Finals. In breaking a 16 game winning streak with the loss, winning the Minor Premiership and Club Championship only made the Symphony Bittersweet.
Parachuting back in for the occasion were the halves pairing of Josh Hardie and Will Wennerbom who had been elevated to 4th and 3rd Grade in recent weeks as the bloodhounds closed in on the Club Championship scent leaving the flank unguarded. With more unforced errors than a first round match between Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios on clay at night it’ll take a few weeks to drill the bad habits out of them. The forwards were excellent and the outside backs made some good play with the ball they had.
As luck would have it we have drawn Parra again this week in the Quarter Final and there is no cavalry – the team will either rise to the occasion or capitulate at Chatswood in front of all and sundry.
The points were divided amongst the forwards on the weekend with special mention to Sean O’Byrne, Aidan Moore, Tom Leaver, Sofalino latu and Sydney Malifa.
Parramatta 26 def. Sydney Uni 12