Sydney University
Vs
Eastern Suburbs
28 March 2026
By Bruce China Lin
Sydney University ultimate test arrived last Saturday at Woollahra oval when the Students took on competition heavyweights Eastern Suburbs.
Although the Students narrowly lost during the latter stages of the game 33-29, the Students led for the majority of the game only to succumb to exhaustion near the end.
Easts came out of the blocks at a rate of knots moving the ball from every position. Soon they were ahead 12-0 whilst the Students were still catching their breaths.
But once University composed themselves and commenced to inhale their daily intake of 550 litres of pure oxygen per day, a hatrick of tries arrived. Prominent amongst these gems was the work of Waratah squad member Liam Grover. Playing at wing instead of his accustomed position at outside centre, young Liam saw that *defenestration was called for with a need for speed. The young back skirted around his opposition in a nano second . In one try his in and away confused his opponent which saw an excellent University try scored by a supporting team member.
Soon University were leading 24-12 and last years grand finalists were confronted with fifteen determined Students on the cusp of half time.
The second half started positively. Camped inside the opposition quarter a lineout was won and the ball shifted to the open towards the clubhouse. Some rapid fire passing saw winger Ollie Harvey receive the final ball. Harvey like his studies in architecture drew an imaginary tangent line towards the golf clubhouse corner. With power and pace the big winger waltzed over for University to now lead 29-12.
But Easts with fresh reserves commenced to make judicious replacements. When University loosehead Paddy Tagg was unfortunately injured and stretchered off after a scrum University momentum was lost. We hope Paddy gets well soon to help the University 2026 crusade.
Easts started to raise the bar and some quick tries arrived through University mistakes and probably through fatigue as the game was played at a cracking pace.
Unfortunately against a seasoned side like Easts when they were on a roll they were hard to quell and at full time University allowed Easts to climb back to lead 33-29 which was the final score.
University were the underdogs and nearly caused an upset. It is a long season ahead and a test against a strong club can only be well regarded. It was only in the last few minutes that Easts in both first grade and second grade overran University who scored some scintillating tries.
The next two weeks will enable head coach John Manenti time to reassess what combinations worked and give some injured players some welcome rest.
Come 11 April the competition starts at home and it does not get anything harder versus last year’s premiers those menacing green rats of Warringah.
*Defenestration – the act of throwing someone out of a window.