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EASTWOOD CLAIM 2015 INTRUST SUPER SHUTE SHIELD
Manly didn’t fail to deliver on their promise to flood Concord Oval with supporters, with a deafening crowd of fans hoping the Marlins would break an 18 year premiership drought, but in a grinding affair decided by a last minute field goal, it was Eastwood who prevailed 15-12, in a match that failed to yield a single try.
THE MATCH
An early penalty to the Marlins kicked by their captain Matt Lucas gave the extremely vocal supporting crowd something to cheer for, but Eastwood looked intent on spoiling the party with some strong attacking play from the resumption of play.
Lucas followed up with a remarkable field goal, capitalising on a weakness in the Eastwood line to take their lead to 6-0. Buoyed by the positive start, Manly relentlessly attacked, maintaining the majority of the possession in the first half of the game but with little reward.
Eastwood fought back in the last ten minutes of the half with several attempts to cross the line, but were repelled back by desperate Manly defence. Ben Batger narrowly kicked a penalty in the dying minutes of the half to take the score to 6-3, but the accurate boot of Matt Lucas extended Manly’s lead back out to six points with a penalty goal on the siren.
Ben Batger wasted no time adding to the scoreboard upon the resumption of play in the second half, with a penalty goal in the opening minutes edging them slightly closer to the Marlins who were still ahead 9-6.
Batger was again given the opportunity to score with a penalty awarded after some attacking play in the midfield from Eastwood’s Tom Hill, and despite strong wind he was able to level the scores at 9-9.
Eastwood’s momentum was on the ascendency, but an opportunity on the wing from Jai Ayoub was stopped dead by an extraordinary tackle from Matt Lucas. The dogged defence from Manly continued, and another likely try attempt from Eastwood failed to reach its mark.
End to end play with little reward for both sides, as desperate defence prevented any scoring. Matt Lucas slotted a penalty goal just after the 20 minutes mark of the second half, edging Manly slightly ahead 12-9.
Eastwood hooker Hugh Roach burst through the defensive line to gain valuable territory, ably supported by halfback Matt Gonzalez, but keeping in tempo with the match it was a penalty goal resulting from the play that added the points to the scoreboard – Eastwood again drawing level with Manly 12-all.
An Eastwood lineout within scoring distance was the impetus for a sustained period of possession for the side, but despite several good opportunities and a five metre scrum feed they were unable to cross the line. A poor clearing kick from Manly gave them a second chance but the tenacity of Matt Lucas ensured that the scoreline would remain unchanged from that play.
The match looked to be be decided by a penalty kick for Eastwood from directly in front of goal with just minutes left to play, and uncharacteristically, Ben Batger missed the easy goal and the chance to seal the premiership. Redemption was found in teammate Jai Ayoub who neatly slotted a field goal from near halfway to take Eastwood to a 15-12 win, and their second consecutive premiership win after Sam Lane's last ditch field goal reply went awry.
EASTWOOD 15 (B Batger 4 penalty goals, J Ayoub 1 field goal) beat MANLY 12 (M Lucas 3 penalty goals, 1 field goal)
SECOND GRADE: RANDWICK v SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Randwick and Sydney University put on an exciting display in the fierce contest for the Colin Caird Shield, Uni took an early lead but Randwick mounted a remarkable comeback to snatch the lead midway through the second half. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the class of Sydney University, who prevailed to take out the 2015 second grade premiership 35-34.
The two teams traded penalty goals to open the scoring, but Sydney University took an early lead with a try to centre Christopher Ingate, converted by Byron Hodge.
Uni followed up via fullback Matthew Narracott, who set up Matthew Philip for a try in the corner in the latter stages of the first half, ably converted by his fellow second rower Byron Hodge to take the score to 17-3.
Randwick scored their first try of the match from the resulting re-start, with Lewie Catt streaking past defence to score under the posts, converted by Latu Latinipulu to reduce the deficit to just seven points at the break.
A try from Randwick’s Kodie Hawkins shortly after the resumption of play took the score to 17-15, still in favour of the Students, who were quick to hit back just minutes later.
End to end rugby continued, with Randwick tenaciously holding on to even the scores at 22-all, with just over 20 minutes left to play in the match. They followed up with a thrilling try to Latu Latinipulu, converted by Andrew Deegan to steal the lead 29-22.
University’s Byron Hodge contributed again with two penalty goals in quick succession to take his side to within a point, but a try to Latu Latinipulu shortly after took Randwick’s lead to six points.
Sydney University were fiercely determined, and after an extended period of possession, Christopher Ingate found a gap in Randwick’s defence and burst through to cross under the posts. A conversion from Byron Hodge saw Uni reclaim the lead with five minutes left to play, and secure the premiership for the Students.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 35 (M Philip, C Ingate 2, J Swan tries; B Hodge 3 goals, 3 penalty goals) beat RANDWICK 34 (T Goodbody, K Hawkins, L Latinipulu, C Taripo, L Catt tries; C Taripo 1 goal, 1 penalty goal, A Deegan 1 goal)
THIRD GRADE: EASTWOOD v EASTERN SUBURBS
With a commanding 14-0 lead over Eastern Suburbs at half-time, Eastwood looked to be virtually unbeatable in the third grade Grand Final playing for the JR Henderson Shield. The try-scoring spoils were shared across the team, with lock Jack Warfield, winger Ben Coady, and centre Sione Fangia all crossing the line. Jack Tourish was faultless in his kicking duties, booting all three conversions and a penalty to high score for his team.
Meanwhile, Eastern Suburbs mounted a comeback in the second half, to take their score to a credible 12 points, courtesy of tries to winger Dan Watson-Wood and halfback Andrew Ferris, and a conversion to fullback Dan Gallagher.
EASTWOOD 24 (J Warfield, B Coady, S Fangia tries; J Tourish 3 goals, 1 penalty goal) beat EASTERN SUBURBS 12 (D Watson-Wood, A Ferris tries; D Gallagher 1 goal)
FOURTH GRADE: MANLY v EASTERN SUBURBS
It was a successful start to the day for the Marlins, who took out the fourth grade premiership JR Henderson Cup with a ten point win over Eastern Suburbs.
A two try effort in the first half from Manly courtesy of lock James Watson and winger Scott Clemmett saw Easts down 15-7 at the break, with their lone try scored by number 8 Alex Edmonds and converted by fullback Will Maddocks.
A spectacular try to winger Scott Clemmett in the late stages of the match made Manly’s win an almost-certainty. His two-try effort for the match also included his milestone 100th try for the club when he crossed the line in the first half.
MANLY 20 (S Clemmett 2, J Watson tries; C Duffus 1 goal, 1 penalty goal) beat EASTERN SUBURBS 10 (A Edmonds try; W Maddocks 1 goal, 1 penalty goal)
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