Randwick Power On As Depleted Beasts Fade

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday August 9, 2004

Phil Wilkins

Unbeaten Randwick sailed as free as birds with their eighth successive win while second-placed Eastern Suburbs hit their "heartbreak hill" at the Gordon Highlanders' Chatswood Oval in a 45-12 setback for the Beasts on Saturday.

Northern Suburbs had won four games and loomed as play-off candidates, but Randwick dented their optimism with a 55-7 and nine-tries-to-one caning of the Shoremen at North Sydney Oval.

Randwick continue to prepare impressively for the play-offs and the silverware, of which Eastwood have deprived them in recent times.

The Galloping Greens have extended their lead to a whopping 10 points in the premier competition. And the news gets worse for their rivals.

For Randwick, rugged utility forward Dwayne Haare came off the bench, while representative forwards Owen Finegan and Rocky Elsom are also returning after injury. And energetic hooker Adam Freier and powerful tight-head Fosi Pala'amo will be crucial in the next two months.

At Chatswood, Easts were without skipper Tim McGann and five other regulars but were comprehensively beaten, five tries to two, with Josh Gamgee playing an inspirational role at halfback, running well and dictating terms behind Gordon's pack.

"Josh Gamgee is a player of Gordon's future; he gives us some spark," coach Steve Lidbury said yesterday. "He has played several positions, but we want him to settle into the halfback role."

It was only Gordon's second win of the Tooheys New Cup and, seeing young players like breakaways Kingsley Seale and Ben Matheson and tight-head Ben Coutts performing strongly, Lidbury remarked: "With five rounds remaining, it is sad we are coming good so late in the season."

Easts' coach Michael Doyle praised Gordon, declaring: "They played superbly, strong all over the field, and we were poor. We'll get some of our injured players back next weekend, but it will be a tough few weeks ahead of us."

Waratahs squad member Peter Hewat provided the razor's edge and the blunt instrument to bring about Sydney University's downfall with 18 of Manly's points in a last-gasp 23-22 win at University Oval, nudging the Students out of the top five.

In the final minute, referee George Ayoub awarded a penalty 40m out on the right wing and Hewat calmly drove over the goal, finishing what he had started with a fine, sweeping try to give the Marlins the lead for the first time in the 30th minute. All seemed lost for Manly when five-eighth Daniel Halangahu triggered a three-try avalanche in seven minutes for a 22-10 University lead, failing to bury the opposition with only a solitary goal from his five attempts.

University lost ACT Brumbies squad tight-head David Fitter in the first few minutes with a rib injury, adding to his injury-ridden year, then replacement Nick Duffy came off with a sternum injury, reserve-grade hooker Simon Kinsey propping the scrum with Gareth Hardy.

With second-rower Sean Maloney powering away in the heavy forward exchanges, Manly's pack managed to contain their highly regarded opposition. University's disappointment was muted by their two bonus points.

In other results, Eastwood downed Penrith, 72-26, at Nepean Rugby Park, the troubled Emus having the scant consolation of their first bonus point for their four tries, while Canberra continued their upward march with a 33-7 home win over Southern Districts.

West Harbour remain one of the more enterprising sides, inflicting a 53-13 loss on Parramatta at Waratah Stadium.

Club rugby details - Page 33

© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home