University returned to the steel city of Newcastle last Saturday after an absence of some twenty
years. The Newcastle Sportsground No:2 was without doubt one of the best playing surfaces ever
seen in the Shute Shield. The fast grassy turf was an ideal surface for University to defeat Newcastle 59-10. University’s mind trap of looking like characters from Alfred E. Neuman’s* MAD tricks oppositions in under estimating their deadly attack.
Five minutes elapsed and it was here that a five metre lineout saw the University rolling maul
applied resulting in hooker Pat O’Doherty a converted try.
University were slowly escalating their control and the next try was an absolute gem engineered by
outside centre Henry Clunies-Ross. From a set piece the ball was rapidly shifted through the hands tothe grandstand side. When Clunies-Ross received the ball he drew defenders and cleverly flicked it one handed to his trailing winger Ofa Manuofetoa who burst down the flank to score. Thereafter it was a procession of great tries through teamwork and moments of ad lib play.
Chief architect of the attack all afternoon was fullback Tim Clements. Newcastle were left
bewildered all afternoon from Clements’ running lines. It was if a pack of Grizzly bears were
exasperated attempting to pin down a player who glides through gaps in a single bound. Henry
Clunies-Ross received a Clements ball through a gap to register the fourth try and bonus point at the fifteen minute mark. Clements continued with the next try and the Students were ahead 33-0 after only twenty minutes.
Newcastle registered their first try soon after capitalizing on a University lapse in concentration by
racing down an exposed touch line. Further tries saw University leading at half time 47-5.
Newcastle started the second half with the first try but University soon after further dominated to
increase their final score to 59-10. A few debutants were later introduced to give them a taste of
first grade.
Although the scoreline was inflated a great afternoon was had in Newcastle and University
appreciates all the effort undertaken by the NHRU to organize a streamlined event during these
Covid-19 times.
*Alfred E. Neuman -fictitious mascot and cover boy of American humour magazine MAD.
