Sydney University
Vs
Western Sydney Two Blues
25 April 2026
By Bruce China Lin
Last Saturday University were back at home which coincided with one of our nations most revered and solemn days, Anzac Day.
The pre game ceremony included a recital of the Ode of Remembrance by clubman ground announcer Andrew Coorey and a moving bugle performance by colts player Liam Hill that would cause people to experience *verklempt. With the game enveloped with such emotion it was fitting that the Students showed
their best play to date with an outstanding 50-15 victory.
From the kickoff University secured the ball inside Two Blues territory and were shifting the ball with purpose. Once inside the Two Blues quarter the ball was passed wide towards the grandstand. Stand in captain inside centre Eddie Poolman saw a gap and applied the acceleration beating the defensive line to score a nice try. The try was converted by five eighth Tom Curtis and this was the first of many for the visiting Englishman.
Poolman’s try was the catalyst for University to assert themselves. However the sin binning of outside centre Lukas Ripley for a knock down offence gave the Two Blues a numerical advantage to exploit an overlap to score along the northern wing to trail University 10-7.
Then it was almost as if University were getting the band back together with two rolling five metre lineout tries which was the clubs lethal signature move over the past two decades.
At halftime the Students enjoyed a handy lead of 24-10. But the unpredictability of the Two Blues is what they are dangerous for. University would need to approach the second half wary of their attacking capabilities.
It took University fifteen minutes to resist the Two Blues and register their next try. University were exhausting the Two Blues defences with forceful rucking and mauling. Within the Two Blues quarter the ball was swung to the open. A looping pass to the wing was received by the wizard Harry Potter. Potter zeroed in
to the corner and was clobbered whilst diving and grounding the ball. The try was awarded but unfortunately there would be no more flying around Hogwarts hall as Potter came off dazed.
Then in the sixty fifth minute an injection of ad lib play came to Camperdown. The Two Blues turned over the ball inside the University half. Down the grandstand blind side some slick hands saw the wizardry of fullback and current Australian sevens player James McGregor.
Receiving a ball from the Welshman with the name straight from the cast of *How Green was my Valley Iestyn Galton, McGregor weaved down the blindside. McGregor passed to replacement winger Liam Grover who also showed a set of twinkle toes. Grover later passed back inside to the supporting Eddie Poolman. Fast Eddie then clapped on the overdrive and was chased by a lone Two Blues defender. Poolman used an in and away and changes of pace to thwart the covering defence to score his double for the day. There was twelve minutes left and University led comfortably 36-10. But the Two Blues never threw in the towel. A loosely marked blindside was exploited and their big winger also scored his double for the day in the Parramatta Road corner.
The Students were enjoying their day and two further
converted tries were scored by breakaway Leafi Talataiana and James McGregor through gaps more prodigious than the dear leader Kim Jong-Un’s belly!
Final score was 50-15 and on such a sacred day in our nations calendar there were smiles and backslapping allround. Replacement prop Dion Yazdani sporting a number one haircut could not be any happier despite his nude cranium looks. Second rower Irish Jack Regan thought the craic was about to start after the full time whistle with the Guinness and some schnitzengruben wursts stuffed by the von Appen brothers.
Forwards coach Liam Winton could see the development of the side in the past few months.”To win today against a really difficult side like the Two Blues is really good. It’s not a perfect effort but we’re heading in the right direction,” said Winton.
Head coach John Manenti was focused on getting more from his developing side.”We responded well but we still need to respect that ball more to really take it up a notch,” said Manenti.
First grade debutant James McGregor was absorbing the win and what it means to be playing at Australia’s oldest rugby club.”I’m very happy to be here. It was a tough eighty minutes out there but we went well.The players, people and atmosphere here are great, says the livewire fullback.
Another home game next Saturday against the big Manly Marlins will once again test the abilities of University.
*Verklempt – overcome with emotion, choked up.
*How Green was my Valley- 1941 Academy Award winning film. Depicts life in the South Wales mining valleys in the fictional village of Gilfach Goch through the eyes of infant Huw Morgan.
