Sydney University
Vs
Eastern Suburbs.
08 /08/2026
By Bruce China Lin
There is nothing better on a sunny wintery day than to battle Eastern Suburbs on their Ladies Day. Even better coming out as winners! This was the script last Saturday.
The colourful day with marquees and booths decked along the perimeter was the perfect backdrop for University to inflict a heart pumping full time victory of 46-44. University trailed over twelve points at three stages of the game but somehow wrested the Sir Roden Cutler Shield from the Easts after nearly two years inside their trophy cabinet.
University were slow starters and allowed Easts early points with a five metre rolling maul try. This was replied with a mirror image barging try by University hooker Folau Fainga’a . However a loosely marked ruck bestowed the easiest of tries to the Easts winger for a lead of 14-5. A further penalty increased their lead to 17-5
The tricolours continued their roll with a backline raid towards the golf course side. With quick hands the opposite winger crashed over in the corner. 22-5 favoured Easts twenty five minutes into the first half and the signs looked like it was going to be a hard afternoon ahead for the Students.
But luck arrives in many ways and this came soon after. Easts were about to throw into a five metre lineout outside their line. It was almost as if the Easts forward pack consumed *chilli coco margaritas with some of their visiting ladies rather Gatorade. The ball was bizarrely thrown long and crooked. University halfback Olly Schmude clapped his hands regathered and dived over for the easiest of tries. The Henry James conversion had University now trailing 22-12.
Things only got better for the Students after a long dart down the touchline by winger Tom Morrison. A lineout was formed and the ball was spread to the open through the hands. When fullback James McGregor received the ball he had the foresight to throw a long cut out pass to breakaway and Captain Eamon Doyle on the wing who had an easy path to the line. James converted and University had reduced the deficit to 22-19.
The three point deficit was only momentary as straight from the kickoff University’s inability to secure possession allowed Easts Waratah halfback Teddy Wilson to capitalise on a loose ball. Wilson’s quick acceleration through a gap gave him a dream run for a converted try. 29-19 was the halftime score running into the dressing rooms. Or in the Students case the post war change rooms with the ambience of a bomb shelter. The new pristine sheds could only be used by those with a rate payers notice displaying the postcode of *2023.
There is never a dull game at Woollahra oval when the Students and Easts go toe to toe. Not only on the field but off there is something to see. There were literally thousands packed into the ground predominantly of young ladies. University club fashionista and mother Kate Robinson approved of the attire worn from Zimmerman, Chanel and Ramone & Raoul of Double Bay. But off the shoulder tops were still too cold for this afternoon when the sun sets.
The second half could be characterised as the * The Agony and Ecstasy. There were periods of despondency with quick and easy tries points scored by Easts. But University persevered. Breakaway Ollie Harvey displayed this with a bullocking try after a lineout this time showing Easts napping. 34-26 still favoured Easts and both sides continued the battle and would not enter into hibernation.
Easts big tight head Lowery showed this with a rampaging run to crash over to lead 41-26. Easts must have thought it was *Groundhog Day as Fainga’a scored from another five metre maul.41-33 was the scoreline with at least ten minutes of game time still left to play. Drama and excitement were lurking around the corner like a seagull waiting to steal your picnic snacks. This came with the try of the day finished off by the return of royalty!
The leadup was classic Student attack. From a lineout inside the Students half the ball was spread wide along the backline. Inside centre Eddie Poolman found a gap and cut through linking with outside centre the pin ball wizard Boston Fakafanua. Fakafanua took off and passed to winger Morrison who was about to be tackled into touch but managed to throw the ball back inside. Fakafanua was wrestled to the ground but the ball was laid back in a ruck. The ball was passed wide to be received by the return of the five hundred and twentieth in line to the British throne number eight, Wallaby, Viscount Nick Champion De Crespigny.
Christened Marmaduke but prefers to be called by his *nom de guerre Nick, this warrior journeyman of rugby and the club raced through a yawning gap to score adjacent to the posts. James once again converted and University only trailed 41-40 now.
Then five minutes of sheer agony flowed as University kicked a penalty to lead then conceded one to trail 44-43 with less than a minute left. University with a fresh front row proved the difference.
An Easts scrum forty out from their line was packed. Lowery their tight head anchor had been replaced. With time nearly up the University pack shunted Easts which caused their replacement tight head to buckle. The whole University pack were fist pumping as this was their moment in history after the penalty was awarded. A pressure kick awaited James.
James calmly line up the kick and with a seamless tap glided the ball between the posts to call full time and an incredible 46-44 victory against a formidable opposition.
After the elation had settled head coach the Godfather John Manenti was still grounded as the job was certainly not over. “I’m really pleased that we achieved things on multiple fronts. When things were not going our way we found a way around it and we have ticked that box. Great effort by Monkey also(Henry James), said Manenti.
The parting words of coach Manenti ring true. Come Monday the normal routine will once again commence. Players will focus mentally, physically, treat niggling injuries, eat the right food and *pandiculation to prepare against a desperate Eastwood next week at Camperdown.
*Chilli coco magarita– Tequila lime and coconut.
*2023– Postcode for Bellevue Hill.
*The Agony and Ecstasy – 1965 historical/drama motion picture deals with the conflicts of Michelangelo and Pope Julius II during the 1508–1512 painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
*Groundhog Day –It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks.
*Nom de guerre– Pseudonym for a warrior like person.
*Pandiculation – Waking up in the morning and stretching.