Up the Woods! Eastwood win 2011 premiership after 100 minutes of the Shute Shield’s best: Lower Grade resultsby James Knight.
It was fitting that long-standing Shute Shield premiers Sydney University faced this year’s plucky challengers and minor premiers Eastwood in the grand final, and that both sides unwittingly saved the best game of the season till last, a 100-minute marathon around Concord Oval with Eastwood finishing three points ahead, 19-16.
 Eastwood supporters have a good ol' sing-along with the team and coach. Photo:www.seiserphotography.com
Every step of the way, Eastwood and Uni were neck and neck, with neither side ever opening up more than a four-point lead. Momentum and possession were shared equally, frequently switching back and forth with every bruising tackle. When one side took the lead, the other grappled their way back into the game.
It took moments of individual brilliance or bravery from either side to break the scoring deadlock. After five-eighths Daniel Halangahu and Pierre Hola traded penalty goals, and then Uni fullback Bernard Foley replaced Halangahu to kick one more, Hola wagered Eastwood’s possession with a streaky chip kick to winger John Grant. It paid off, with Grant regathering the kick to score the first try. Hola’s conversion put Eastwood ahead 10-6.
The four-point margin remained until halftime, with Eastwood’s halfback Nic White giving his side ideal territory with perfect touch-finding kicks, and Hola continued to test Uni’s defence out wide, hanging cross-field kicks for Grant to catch and work his elusive magic.
 No love lost between Sydney University captain Tim Davidson and Eastwood hooker Damien Fitzpatrick. Photo: www.seiserphotography.com
Yet Uni’s defence was clinical and brutal as always, never falling for any of Eastwood’s tricks. Foley and Hola kicked a penalty goal apiece to have the score at 13-9 at halftime.
Early exchanges in the second half saw Uni use its wildcard, with halfback Matt Schwager catching an offload, spinning out of tackles and then showing great strength to plant the ball down over the line. Foley added the extras to wrest the lead from Eastwood at 16-13.
Uni looked set to grind out the remaining quarter and make it a seventh straight premiership, with a captain’s knock from Eastwood flanker Hugh Perrett and another cross-field kick from Hola to Grant, coming to nought. Hola, with nerves of steel, kicked a penalty in the 78th minute to send the game into overtime with scores at 16-all.
The few minutes break at the end of regular time was critical for Eastwood. With light fading fast and passing showers becoming heavier, the wind went out of Uni’s sails, having lost their three point lead in the final minutes after fighting to hold onto it for most of the second half. Eastwood, who had looked down and out in the second half, were suddenly spared another tilt at the title.
Hola kicked a penalty goal in the 88th minute, and Eastwood held onto the lead until time ran out. Uni hit back time and time again, but Eastwood always managed to steal the ball and avert danger.
Emotions will be vastly different in both camps today, but they will share the same sort of aches and pains after another very physical contest, this time played over 100 minutes and in front of over 7000 happy spectators.
 Sydney University centre Tom Carter put in another workmanlike effort in the championship game. Photo:www.seiserphotography.com
The determination to never give up from both sides has written them into the Shute Shield history books. Both participated in the first grand final to go into extra time in the 80 years of Shute Shield grand finals.
In the chaos after the game, Eastwood coach John Manenti said that while his team had not had the chance to play their style of rugby, their ability to stick with Uni and take the final lead was just reward for their efforts all season.
“We were the better team for the most parts, they did what they do normally very well. We made a few errors which let them back into the game, but that’s a grand final. In the end we were able to grind it out, and in some ways play their style of rugby,” said Manenti.
“People who have seen us throughout the year know we play an entertaining brand of footy, but the conditions and the game didn’t suit that today, but there were still some moments of good footy in there.”
Manenti pointed to the efforts of his five-eighth, Pierre Hola in creating scoring opportunities, but was particularly pleased with the efforts of his front row.
“Pierre had an outstanding game, but the front row’s dominance was significant in terms of their power of the Uni pack and the importance of the game.”
 Winners are grinners: Eastwood captain Hugh Perrett lifts the Shute Shield. Photo:www.seiserphotography.com
Eastwood 19 (John Grant try; Pierre Hola 4 pens, con) d Sydney University 16 (Matt Schwager try; Bernard Foley 2 pens, con, Daniel Halangahu pen) after extra time at Concord Oval. HT: Eastwood 13-9. Referee: Ian Smith. Crowd: 7372.
The Colin Caird Shield Grand Final – Second Grade
Southern Districts 24 (Dennis Swann, Rubin Vito, Alex Gibbon tries; Dewet Roos 3 cons, pen) d Eastwood 16 (Nathan Powyer try; Mick Snowden 3 pens, con) at Concord Oval. HT: Southern Districts 14-9. Referee: Steve Hardy
The Henderson Shield Grand Final – Third Grade
Sydney University 21 (Josh Koops, Nick Edwards tries; Jack Macklin 3 pens, con) d Eastern Suburbs 17 (Nick Healey 2 tries; Sam Devlin 2 cons, pen) at Concord Oval. HT: Sydney University 15-3. Referee: William Houston.
The Henderson Cup Grand Final – Fourth Grade
Eastern Suburbs 15 (Blake Boulton 5 pens) d West Harbour 6 (Alex Lavender 2 pens) at Concord Oval. HT: West Harbour 6-3. Referee: Michael Hogan.
|
| Shute Shield Round 1 - April 14, 2012 | | Warringah (0) | v | Gordon (0) | @ | Pittwater Rugby Park | | | Penrith (0) | v | Easts (0) | @ | Nepean Rugby Park | | | Norths (0) | v | Eastwood (0) | @ | North Sydney Oval | | | Souths (0) | v | Parramatta (0) | @ | Forshaw Park | | | Sydney Uni (0) | v | West Harbour (0) | @ | Sydneu Uni Oval | | | Randwick (0) | v | Manly (0) | @ | Coogee Oval | |
|