Student chase fifth title

Graham Croker

Wallabies Dean Mumm and Luke Burgess will come off the bench when Sydney University defend their Shute Shield title against Randwick at Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Coaches Damien Hill and Greg Mumm have stuck with the troops who have carried them the season decider, with the only changes in recent weeks being Jacob Taylor for unlucky fullback Nathan Trist, who was injured in the final competition round, and hooker Nathan Charles, who will be in the starting XV on Sunday, with Ben Roberts on the bench.

Taylor’s move to fullback has provided Australian Under 20 representative Peter Betham a berth on the wing.

One of the key battles in the 2009 decider will be at the scrum where four Wallabies will be in the starting line-ups – flanker Phil Waugh for Sydney University and number eight Stephen Hoiles, second-rower Mark Chisholm and prop Sekope Kepu for the Wicks. The battle between young Sydney University tighthead Pat Ryan and Kepu will be crucial.

The grand final continues a keen rivalry between the two teams over the past decade. Randwick won the 2000 title 34-33 in controversial circumstances. The Students led 33-29 until the final minute when they were penalised at the ruck. The Wicks found touch five metres out and scored from the lineout.

Randwick defeated Sydney University 32-25 in the 2003 Shute Shield decider, but the Students had some revenge when they won the 2005 Tooheys Cup grand final 16-10 over the Wicks.

The real revenge came last year when Sydney university triumphed 45-20.
Sydney University will be pushing for a fifth successive title on Sunday.

Having won the 2009 minor premiership, Sydney University earned the right to defend their Shute Shield title with a 37-13 win over Eastwood in their elimination final at Concord Oval. Randwick won their way through with a 53-32 disposal of Gordon at Woollahra Oval.

The Students have won the past two Shute Shield premierships following wins in the Tooheys Cup grand finals in 2005 and 2006 when the Shield was contested in the first half of the season and the Cup in the second half.
And number eight Tim Davidson will be captaining the side for a fifth successive title.

Sydney University Third Grade advanced to a grand final showdown with Gordon when they defeated Warringah 27-13 in their elimination final,
Supporters should note, the Third Grade grand final is scheduled to commence at 11.40am, while First Grade kicks off at 3pm.