On a glorious autumn Saturday, University ventured to the commercial hub of the lower north shore Chatswood to confront the Gordon Highlanders.
The Students continued their attacking mindset with a try after only three minutes. The ball was spread wide and Tolu Latu gave the final pass to winger Henry Clunies – Ross. The dashing speedster had Clunies going one way and Ross the other to bamboozle his opposing player to score in the southern railway corner.
Having raised their collective body temperatures to the required 98.6 Fahrenheit, University really started to play a high speed style of rugby with relentless ball movements and recycling. Halfback Theo Strang made it look easy with a dart down the blind to score after a scrum. Spurred on by his mother Lesley’s Horse Whispering cry from the stands, flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny IX rampaged down the middle sucking in tartan jerseys like a moving sink hole. Big Nick offloaded to prop Matt Sandell who crashed over to increase the score line to 19 nil with only ten minutes having elapsed.
The relentless rugby had all the hallmarks of a cricket score about to be recorded. At one stage a kick off was returned with a bust down field passing through multiple sets of University hands. Budding actor and extra for Aldi commercials winger James Kane or his preferred stage name – Jacques le Kane continued in support. Just when everyone thought he would score, there was a sudden halt. Did the jeune acteur receive a call from a casting agent beyond the Orchard Avenue fence? It did not matter as a ruck formed and the recycling saw Strang score his second try.
University’s backs fullback Tim Clements and centre Chris Ingate thought they were in gaps wider than the WestConnex interchange. By halftime University were leading 54-0.
Despite the one sided score line Chatswood is always a great place to be on a Saturday afternoon during the halftime break. A quick look at Westfield’s or Chatswood Chase to grab a quick Mother’s Day gift or sale item? Or for all the foodies a dash across the road to the Mandarin Centre for a plate of chicken’s feet washed down with Oolong tea. Yummo!
The ten minute break was soon over and University continued their juggernaut piling on successive tries. Replacements came on but there was no subsiding in scores and the blue and gold tide crept past 60-0. University were executing pushovers, rolling mauls, penalty tries. There was no reprieve for Gordon. Gordon later scored two unconverted tries but the final score line was an emphatic 87-10 to University.
Next week University are at home to the Manly Marlins a traditionally tough opposition. The day will also herald the club’s legendary Ladies Day. A day where many a player has ventured into the female assemblage never to surface again!
Score card:
Tries- Matt Sandell (2), Rohan O’Regan (1), Theo Strang (3), James Kane (2), Harry Potter (1), Henry Clunies Ross (1), Mitch Whitely (2)
Conversions- James Kane (10)