Sydney Uni have justified their heavyweight status in 2021 with a dominant home ground display against the in-form Warringah, running away 45-12 winners to amass their seventh bonus point victory in as many weeks.
In easily the toughest matchup of the round, the Students were clinical against a sloppy Rats outfit, pouncing on regular Warringah errors and compiling a bruising defensive performance.
The win sees Uni remain atop the Charter Hall Shute Shield ladder with 35-points, despite Norths also retaining their perfect form against the Two Blues yesterday 46-7.
Warringah will be unable to dwell on their disappointing performance for long, as they prepare to face defending champions Gordon next weekend. Having defeated West Harbour 31-17 yesterday, the Stags shape up as a decisive test in the progress of this young Rats side.
The Rats had to endure relentless Uni pressure in the early stages of the match yesterday, with the Students parked predominantly in their opposition third in the opening 10-minutes.
However, neither side was clinical in the opening minutes, with ball handling and attacking execution amiss in a relatively stop start early portion of play.
Eventually the Uni pressure was too great for Warringah to absorb, with an errant clearing kick from Tyson Davis allowing flyhalf Ben Hughes to cross for the games opening try.
It wasn’t long until Uni were in again, after a short side scrum play saw the ball kicked deep in Warringah territory. Despite the Rats having looked to secure possession, the ball was easily stripped away and with a surging run through Rats defenders, skipper Jack McCalman extended the Uni lead to 12-0.
This early lead was just reward for the Students dominance, with consistent handling errors squashing any Warringah attacking opportunities and making it hard for the visitors to impose themselves in the Uni half.
With the half winding down, an errant Rats lineout was beautifully retrieved by Students hooker, Declan Moore, who raced away from the scrambling Rats defence to gift winger Eddy King an easy scoring opportunity in the corner, extending the margin to three tries.
A late try to Rats skipper, Ben Marr, saw Warringah narrow the margin to 19-7 at half time.
The Rats worries were compounded after the break, with consecutive tries to Eddie Poolman, Declan Moore and Henry Robertson seeing the Students lead race out to 38-7 by the 65th-minute.
Students scrumhalf, Henry Robertson, was impressive in his sides dominant display and can be thanked for much of the pressure applied to Warringah during the match.
Robertson continuously questioned the Rats back three with precise attacking kicks and was justly rewarded with his try late in the piece.
Further tries to Charlie Hancock and Ben Marr saw the Students finish the match comprehensive 45-12 winners.
It marks a perfect two months of footy for the Students, who now approach their well-deserved bye round 4-points clear of Norths on the ladder.
Having been significantly outplayed yesterday, Warringah will be hoping for an improved effort against Gordon next week. With competition high for the cherished finals positions, the Rats will be wary to let too many points slip in this middle portion of the season.
In other Round Seven results, Gordon were too strong for West Harbour 31-17, Randwick piled on the points against Penrith 54-17, Souths defeated Manly 42-30 and Norths continued their winning ways with a 46-7 defeat of the Two Blues.
Result
Sydney University 45
Tries: Hughes, McCalman, King, Poolman, Moore, Robertson, Hancock
Cons: Hughes 4, Poletto
Yellow Card: Botha
Warringah 12
Tries: Marr 2
Cons: Marr
Yellow Card: Woollett
Round Seven Results
West Harbour 17 v 31 Gordon
Sydney Uni 45 v 12 Warringah
Penrith 17 v 54 Randwick
Souths 42 v 30 Manly
Norths 46 v 7 Two Blues
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