Sydney University
Vs
Southern Districts
18 April 2026
By Bruce China Lin
There is no harder task in the Shute Shield then venturing to southern Sydney’s Shire where many a rugby team have succumbed to the deep powers of middle earth.
The Rebels nearly achieved this at Forshaw Park but were thwarted by some Students resilience to win a tight game 31-28.
The conditions were ideal with the ground bathed in sunshine not a hint of *petrichor and a gentle breeze coming from the east.
Souths were focused on bustling the Students attack at every opportunity. But this did not stop them from mounting attacks. When they kept the ball alive to dart over towards the southwestern side a converted try was scored to start the day’s slug fest.
After a refocus University acquired field position and then it was time for the return of the wizard Wallaby Harry Potter. Inside the Rebels quarter the ball was thrown wide . With a series of gentle passes Potter made the extra man and effortlessly glided into the backline for a try converted by five eighth Tom Curtis. Scores were level 7-7.
But this was not enough for Voldemort’s nemesis H Potter. His next act was to mesmerise the opposition by receiving a second phase ball. Potter proceeded to glide, slice and beat tacklers with ease. Rebel players were falling off Potter as if an invisible wand was being used to repel them.
Potter could not be stopped and managed to crash over for another converted try allowing University to now lead 12-7.
University’s thirst for more points continued. A wayward South’s lineout was capitalised by University. Quick passing amongst the backline gave inside centre George Poolman make inroads into the twenty two metre area with hard straight running. Defenders were in short supply and after drawing a defender Poolman passed to his outside centre Lukas Ripley who scored another try allowing University to lead 17-7 at the halftime break.
The second half now saw University running towards that icon of capitalism Westfields Miranda Fair. Both teams were trying to develop some continuity and ascendancy. University struck first and a superb try was constructed. From the scrum half back Hwi Sharples passed to Tom Curtis. In a set move designed by Don Giovanni Manenti in collaboration with the research laboratories of Ferrari, Curtis immediately chip kicked over the top. The spherical bounce of the ball caused it to pop up to the trailing George Poolman who then casually passed to the supporting Lukas Ripley for his second try. This set move now had University ahead 24-7 but it was foolish to think happy days had arrived.
The Rebels were stung badly and made a pact to rectify the scoreline. In the space of fifteen minutes some luck and mistakes by University gave Southern Districts the advantage. The Rebels were now ahead 28-24 but there was still time left to reverse the scoreline. This came when once again inside the Rebels five mete area. University were pressing the goaline with some ferocious rucking akin to a sponge drawing defenders. A wide ball was put through the hands and a shortage in numbers had replacement centre Eddie Poolman race over for a converted try. University led 31-28 with a few minutes left. Southern Districts were throwing literally everything at the Students. A series of five metre lineouts to them were stolen by University second rower Ben Grant otherwise disaster would befall the Students.
The final scrum was packed down with the fulltime bell ringing. Hwi Sharples sensibly kicked the ball into touch to end the game for a narrow 31-28 victory. Relief was showing on all the University players whilst the Rebels faces were etched with disappointment.
Head coach Manenti was happy for the bonus point win but realistic that jumping up and down with cartwheels would be premature. “To come down to South’s is difficult. We made hard work for ourselves but we found a way to win and got our first points for the season.”
One of the first grade debutants was tight head prop big Dion Yazdani who had that grin which comes with a hard earned victory. “It means a lot to play for Sydney University. I came here to play under John Manenti and I’m grateful to him and the boys to make it happen,” said Yazdani.
After an extended absence that saw him play in the United Kingdom, Perth, the Wallabies and now the Waratahs University’s favourite alumnus from Hogwart’s school, Harry Potter had some insightful and painful experiences on his return to the Students today.” It was pretty tough out there actually. My shoulder got smoked, I was sledged constantly, poked in the eye and to top it off was hit in the *nuts but I loved coming back and playing for University,” said the battered fullback who looked like * Ernst Stavro Blofeld with the prodigious scratch down his right eye.
Special mention to new club centurion Declan Moore who reached his milestone on this day. Congratulations Bison celebrate with a nice big bale of hay!
Next week at Camperdown University have an almighty battle against the big physical unpredictable Western Sydney Two Blues.
*Petrichor– The smell of rain after it falls on dry ground.
*Nuts-Colloquial term in reference to primary reproductive glands of males the testicles.
*Ernst Stavro Blofeld-A criminal mastermind head of criminal organization SPECTRE with aspirations of world domination. The arch enemy of British MI6 agent James Bond 007.