Sydney University have broken a five-year Shute Shield drought with a comfortable 45-12 victory over Warringah thanks to two tries from halfback Jake Gordon in front of a pulsating crowd of 15,500 at North Sydney Oval.
Earlier in the week, Gordon spoke about the pain of the 2016 grand final defeat to Norths and there was no doubt he and his teammates were on a mission.
Student prize: Jake Gordon is mobbed by teammates after scoring for Sydney University at North Sydney Oval.
He crossed twice in the first half, from opportunities close to the line, at the end of the ground where scores of University fans were going ballistic in their canary yellow shirts.
University opened up a 17-7 lead at half-time following one of the more clinical halves of football you will see and went on with the job thanks to a superior forward pack and some astute defensive reads.
Canary yellow fever: Sydney University supporters taunt their Warringah counterparts .
Their penalty try early in the second half, to put them ahead 31-7, highlighted just how much their scrum was troubling Warringah’s. The tight five, led by experienced heads Paddy Ryan, Tolu Latu and Dave McDuling, were all at their destructive best when their team needed them most.
It was University’s first Shute Shield win since 2013 and one they thoroughly deserved after a superb season in which they finished minor premiers.
The Rats scored two tries – one in each half – to get their faithful on the hill fired up but there could be no doubting who were the superior team on the afternoon. University have built a reputation of blowing sides off the park this season and that is essentially what they did.
What would have really stung Rats fans was Nick Phipps’ pass to Latu, from one Wallabies representative to another, late in the match to put the icing on the cake.
Controversial inclusion: Wallaby Nick Phipps runs on for the Shute Shield final.
Phipps’ pass was an absolute bullet. He could have taken the easier option but saw Latu running a perfect line and decided to chance his arm, which ultimately saw the hooker crash over for a five-pointer to really rub salt in the wound given how much debate there had been over the pair being released from Wallabies duty.
Students winger Harry Potter and James Kane also chipped in with tries of their own in the second half.
More to come
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