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Cubs Opening Day Deja Vu (12 February 2009)
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The Cubs open their 2009 season this Friday at the St George Hockey Centre against the Sutherland Seahawks and then face Sutherland again in their next match - again! If this all sounds familiar, it is because the Cubs faced the same curious draw last year. In their season opener for 2008, the Cubs played out a tense 6-6 draw against the Seahawks at St George. Quarterback Jarred Smith showed his mettle by leading the Cubs on a scoring drive in the waning moments of the game after earlier throwing a pick 6 to put the Cubs behind. The Seahawks got the better of the Cubs in the next round re-match, winning a tight encounter 12-6. As the teams are division rivals, the double header is doubly important. This year, the Cubs will look to come out on top of the opening derby to take up a strong position in the East Division. With the Seahawks having other ideas, it promises to be a great clash on Friday night. |
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Cubs Shine in Wet (13 February 2009)
It was the opening game of the season, so some nerves were understandable. It was wet and the ball was slippery, so some mistakes were inevitable. But the Cubs were having none of it. Instead, Sydney Uni revelled in the poor conditions at St George on Friday night to open their 2009 campaign with a strong 30-0 victory over the Sutherland Seahawks.
The Cubs showed they were ready from the kick-off. Tackles for loss by linebackers Hugh Tomkins and Scott Reynolds forced the Seahawks to punt without gaining a first down. Quarterback Sam Darcy then orchestrated the attack with an outstanding display of option football: making good reads and forcing the defence to commit with strong fakes and decisive running. The platform was laid early in the first drive by powerful north/south running from fullback Alex Watson. An option pitch to Harry Granger got the Cubs down close and Darcy took the ball up the middle on a draw play for the first touchdown of the season. Granger snuck inside the left pylon for a 2 point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
The defence continued its swarming play on the next drive. Matt Michael pulled off a sure tackle on a much bigger receiver to force the Seahawks into 4th down. However, the Seahawks converted for a first down and then busted a long running play out of a two back offensive set. Hugh Tomkins put in a huge effort to run the play down at the 10 yard line and the Cubs got a break when the play was called back for holding. The defence then stiffened to force the Seahawks to punt and Kent Nguyen fielded the punt cleanly to give the offence good field position at mid-field.
The next drive was short but sweet. On the first play, Darcy ran the veer option just right, delivering the pitch to wingback Kent Nguyen in space on the edge. Nguyen did the rest, turning on the afterburners to outpace the pursuit for a long range touchdown. Darcy cut back hard against the grain to slice into the endzone untouched on the conversion to put the Cubs out by 16-0.
The defence shut down the Seahawks to close out the half. Linemen Alex Sabharwal, Josh Sio and John Aoun and linebackers Scott Reynolds and Daniel Pearson were getting good pressure on the Seahawks backfield and the wet ball was making it difficult for the Sutherland passing game. Not so for the Cubs running game. Aiden Smith, playing centre, had an outstanding game, hitting the quarterback's hands on every shotgun snap despite the slippery ball. The other offensive linemen - Tony Nguyen, Payton Heath and Oscar Heidrich - paved the way for the running game with sound execution and solid blocking.
A penetrating Seahawks lineman took an end around play for a loss, forcing the Cubs to punt away their opening possession of the second half. But the defence soon had the Cubs back in business. On fourth and long, Sutherland shaped up to punt but then tried to run for the first down. Tomkins made good ground to knock the punter into touch just short of the marker and force a turnover on downs.
The offence did not waste the opportunity. Darcy directed the attack down to the red zone and then showed his determination on the keeper to bust through two defenders and dive into the endzone for the touchdown. A 2 point pass attempt floated just out of the reach of receiver Alex Klaric to keep the score at 22-0.
A short kick-off put the defence under pressure on their next series. Tomkins looked to have converted that pressure into points when he picked off a pass at the goal line and returned the interception the length of the field, only to have the return brought back for an illegal block. The offence took the ball and kept on rolling. Alex Watson powered through the line for a long gainer and then punched the ball into the endzone twice from close range for 6 points and the 2 point conversion to complete the scoring for the night.
While the conditions were far from ideal, the win was the ideal start to the season for the Cubs. The team can now look forward with confidence to the return encounter against the Seahawks in two weeks knowing that it has the opportunity to sweep the series and take up a strong position in the Eastern Division. And if that is the way the Cubs are going to play in the wet, then every cloud will have a silver lining for the Cubs this season.
Cubs Sweep Hawks (27 February 2009)
Sydney Uni continued its strong early season form to beat Sutherland 36-6 at St George on Friday night and sweep the series against its Eastern Division rival. This time the field was dry, but the result was the same - a 30 point winning margin to the Cubs.
Sydney Uni started where it had left off in its last game. Offence had first use of the ball and drove the field for an opening touchdown to running back Alex Watson. The offensive line of Oscar Heidrich, Aiden Smith and Tony Nguyen took command of the line of scrimmage from the start, opening running lanes for Watson and giving the option running attack a solid foundation to build on. Quarterback Sam Darcy kept the ball on the conversion and scored for a quickfire 8-0 lead.
The defence was also ready to go. Sutherland were unable to establish a run game against the Cubs front five, linemen Josh Sio and Daniel Pearson and linebackers Scott Reynolds, Hugh Tomkins and Thamsanq'a Dingani shutting down the Seahawks within their first set of downs. Hugh Tomkins made a great play on third and long, holding an over-the-shoulder interception and returning the pick to within 15 yards of the endzone. The Cubs then repeated their opening drive - right down to the scorers, with Alex Watson scoring the touchdown and Sam Darcy running in the extras to stretch the lead to 16-0.
Sutherland could not make any consistent yards on offence and had to punt its next possession away, but this time the Cubs offence stalled. Punting on 4th down, the Cubs caught a big break when the Seahawks returner made contact with the ball and Hugh Tomkins recovered the fumble to give the Cubs possession only 20 yards out. Sam Darcy showed that the Cubs offence can pass as well as run by hitting wingback Kent Nguyen with a well-executed touchdown pass before doubling up to Nguyen with a 2 point pass and a 24-0 lead.
With their backs to the wall and time running out, the Seahawks then mounted their best drive of the half. Cornerbacks Chevy Abraham-Jacob, Matt Michael and Andrew Shattuck made some nice pass break ups as the Seahawks put the ball in the air, but the Seahawks extended the drive after their punter ran for a first down on fourth and long. With barely any time on the clock, the defence failed to adjust correctly to a Seahawks formation and illegally blitzed two linebackers. The Seahawks made the most of the broken play, their quarterback evading the blitz and running into the endzone from about 20 yards for a score. The Cubs kept out the 2 point run attempt to make the half-time score 24-6.
The Cubs maintained their intensity after the break. The defence was particularly stingy, with Dingani showing great range and strength to take down Seahawks ball carriers for a number of tackles for loss. The whole unit performed well to earn a second half shut out.
The offence stuttered in the second half, but continued to pick up first downs and score points. Wide receiver Alex Klaric came to the rescue on a number of occasions, bringing down crucial third down receptions to keep the offence rolling. The Cubs drove down to the goal line early in the half and Sam Darcy put Harry Granger into the endzone at the corner pylon on an option pitch to extend the lead to 30-6.
An onside kick recovery by Dingani late in the game gave the Cubs the chance to put Harry Granger in at quarterback for the last series. Granger directed the offence into the red zone and then found Nguyen on a corner route for his first career touchdown pass. Granger tried to make it a family affair by throwing an out pattern to his brother Max on the two point play, but Max just failed to pull in a toe-tapping, Santonio Holmes-like reception at the edge of the endzone.
With an important series sweep against the Seahawks in the bag, the Cubs now look forward to a top of the table clash against the Bondi Storm at St George next Friday
Sydney Uni were brought back to earth with a heavy 52-20 loss to the Bondi Storm in the fourth round at St George on Friday. The defending Colts Division champions showed they are still the team to beat in 2009.
Bondi opened the game in its power running set and drove the field for the opening score and conversion. The Cubs looked as though they may have held on the drive - putting the Storm into a 4th and long situation - only to have Bondi break a running play for a long range touchdown. This was to be a common theme in the game, with the Cubs undoing a lot of good defensive work by giving up huge plays for scores.
Sydney Uni responded with an impressive drive of its own, Kent Nguyen running the ball in for a touchdown but just failing to hold the conversion pass. Sam Darcy directed the offence well with Harry Granger getting good yards from fullback.
Bondi then showed they are more than just a good running team, the quarterback hitting his receiver in stride on a slant pattern on the first play of the next drive for a run away touchdown. Chevy Abraham-Jacob made a good tackle to stop the conversion run and keep the score at 14-6.
Any hopes of an offensive shoot-out were dashed on the next series by a number of holding penalties. The offence were to be plagued all night by holding penalties, making it very difficult to maintain drives. Backed up and needing to punt, the Cubs failed to get their blocking right, leading to a blocked punt and a safety to the Storm. It also meant kicking the ball back to the Storm, who took full advantage and drove the possession back in for a touchdown to extend the lead to 22-6.
Sydney Uni fought back with a scoring drive, Sam Darcy keeping the ball on the option for a touchdown to bring the score back to 22-12. Darcy missed with the conversion pass but then almost drove the Cubs back in for another score as time was running out to end the half.
The Cubs needed to get points from their first possession of the second half but, instead, got a big dose of holding penalties. The punt on 4th down did not clear half-way and the Storm drove their advantage home with a touchdown and conversion to skip away to 30-12. While the defence would often force the Storm into long yardage situations, it was still leaking big plays and the Storm broke another long pass play to score another touchdown and conversion.
The Cubs offence showed it was still able to move the ball - and quickly - Darcy firing in a long touchdown pass to Kent Nguyen. Harry Granger ran in the conversion to bring the score back to 38-20. However, that was as close as the Cubs would get. The Bondi quarterback hooked up with his favourite receiver on 3rd and long for a huge pass completion - despite excellent coverage by Andrew Shattuck - and put two further touchdowns on the board to put the final score out to 52-20.
While it was a heavy defeat, at least the Cubs now know where they stand and what they need to work on to challenge for the title this year.
Black Friday for Chiefs (13 March 2009)
The Cubs moved back into the winners circle with a 36-22 victory over the Penrith City Chiefs in the fifth round at Pennant Hills.
The Cubs offence was in command all game, with Sam Darcy marshalling his ground game behind a dominant performance from the offensive line of Aiden Smith, Tony Nguyen and Oscar Heidrich. Aiden Smith showed he has only one playing speed - full steam ahead - when he fielded a short kick-off and ran it back for good yards over the return team. Wingback Kent Nguyen was the main beneficiary of this strong play from the line, running in two touchdowns, with Alex Watson and Harry Granger also crossing for touchdowns on the ground. Darcy showed his growing confidence as a ball-carrier by following some powerful blocking from Watson at wingback to be caught just a few steps short of taking a speed option from coast to coast.
The defence was also having a good night, particularly linebacker Hugh Tomkins. His relentless play, including stand-out coverage on kick-offs, was finally rewarded on the scoreboard when he took advantage of a great comeback block by Alex Sabharwal to return a punt all the way for a touchdown. This was the third time in four games that Tomkins had returned a play on defence or special teams to the endzone, but only the first to stand as a touchdown - a just reward for excellent play.
The win consolidated the good start made by the Cubs to the season and continued their recent dominance over teams from the Western Division. The Cubs now face the last team from the Western Division to beat them - the West Sydney Trojans - at Sydney Uni next Friday night.
Trojans put to the Sword (20 March 2009)
The Cubs raced to a 40-0 lead at half-time before coming home with a 56-12 win over the Trojans at Sydney Uni on Friday night. The win was the largest ever by the Cubs over the Trojans, beating the previous best of 36-0 in 2006. For more information on games between the two teams, go to the Cubs page and select the "History" link and then the "Cubs Record by Opponent" link.
The win was built on a dominant display from the Cubs offence, which scored on every possession. It started on the offensive line, which can be seen splitting the Trojan's defence apart for Alex Watson to power away on a dive play for a long range touchdown to open the scoring. Oscar Heidrich, Aiden Smith and Tony Nguyen laid the platform for the running game all night, with Alex Watson and Harry Granger both rushing for 2 touchdowns each. Granger had a particularly productive night. In the first half, he took a pitch left into the stacked side of the Trojans defence and showed real drive to break through and cut back for a break-away touchdown. In the second half, Darcy found Granger open behind the coverage and Granger did the rest, steaming away for another big touchdown play. Granger also made it happen from quarterback, drawing an option play out beautifully before tucking the ball and cutting back inside the last defender to break away for his third huge run for a score. In between all of these big plays, quarterback Sam Darcy was making all of the little ones that held the drives together - making his reads correctly and distributing the ball cleanly. His efficiency was demonstrated by running in 5 conversions, indeed, the Cubs converted all of their touchdowns.
The defence also played well. The Cubs shut down the run early and forced the Trojans into long yardage situations. The secondary were tested all night and responded with Alex Klaric, Chevy Abraham-Jacob and Hugh Tomkins all claiming interceptions. Abraham-Jacob was unlucky not to get a pick 6, his interception return being negated by an illegal block, but Hugh Tomkins got his customary touchdown on defence, this time taking a crucial interception to thwart a Trojans scoring threat late in the half and outracing the Trojans for a length of the field touchdown return. The defence was getting good pressure on the Trojans quarterback, Alex Sabharwal, Daniel Pearson, Tham Dingani and Andrew Shattuck rushing with containment, while lineman John Aoun reaped the rewards up the middle with a number of key sacks and tackles for loss. Although the Trojans put on two second half touchdowns, the Cubs defence clearly took the honours on the night with a strong display.
The Cubs next face the Predators at Sydney Uni before coming back to the Square on 3 April 2009 for their homecoming clash against the UTS Gators.
Cubs devour Predators (27 March 2009)
The Cubs bared their teeth on Friday night, devouring the Predators 52-6 at Sydney Uni.
Hugh Tomkins got the game off to a bright start, taking the opening kick-off left around the coverage team and all the way for a touchdown. Wingback Kent Nguyen had plenty to do on the conversion attempt, but managed to step his way into the endzone on a pitch play for an early 8-0 lead.
The defence was also ready to go. The linebacking corps of Andrew Shattuck, Hugh Tomkins and Thamsanq'a Dingani shut down the Predator's running game and had good coverage on the third receiver out of the backfield. The secondary was tested but came up trumps -Alex Klaric taking two key interceptions, Andrew Shattuck snaring a pick on the back of great pressure from Hugh Tomkins and Chevy Abraham-Jacob diving athletically to hold a tipped pass for another pick. The Predator's first series ended with Klaric taking the first of his two interceptions with a well judged break on a deep ball.
The offence cruised methodically down field. Stop-gap centre, Daniel Pearson, combined with Oscar Heidrich and Tony Nguyen on the line to open good running lanes. From 15 yards out, quarterback Sam Darcy faked the dive to fullback Alex Watson and, seeing no one at home on the off side, kept the ball and strolled into the endzone unopposed. Darcy passed to Harry Granger for the conversion to double the lead to 16-0.
The defence forced the Predators into long yardage on their next possession and took the ball away when Abraham-Jacob dove in to take an interception off a tipped pass. The offence wasted no time, Darcy hitting Nguyen behind the coverage for a run away touchdown. Watson barrelled into the endzone for the conversion and the Cubs were out to a 24-0 lead.
The defence was making it uncomfortable for the Predators' quarterback, getting pressure and covering his receivers. Elliot Mills-Connolly, getting his first start on the defensive line, was getting stronger and stronger as the night wore on, rushing with good containment on the outside. The Predators were unable to move the chains while, on the other side of the ball, the Cubs offence was at its most efficient. Indeed, on two occasions the offence was too effective for its own good. Twice Darcy faked out the officials that he had given the hand-off to the fullback, so that the officials mistakenly whistled the play dead as Darcy waltzed into the endzone untouched. The officials managed to swallow their whistles for long enough for Darcy to score another touchdown on the ground and pass for the conversion to Alex Klaric, who held a good low catch on the slant pattern. That ended the first half scoring at 32-0.
A failed onside kick put the Cubs under immediate pressure to start the second half. When the Predators connected with a long pass down to the five yard line, they looked certain to score. But the Cubs dug in, eager to maintain their shutout. After three failed plays, it was all on the line on fourth down. The quarterback looked for a short pass to his running back releasing from the backfield, but middle linebacker Hugh Tomkins was quick enough to break in front of the play and bat it down for a turnover on downs. The offence drove the length of the field, with Alex Watson running the ball in for the score and then Darcy hitting Nguyen on a bootleg pass for the conversion and a 40-0 lead.
A breakdown in communication saw the Cubs try another onside kick only to give the ball up to the Predators in immediate scoring range. Again, the defence saved the day, driving the Predators back with some timely sacks before Alex Klaric jumped on the fourth and long pass attempt for his second interception. The Cubs offence was hungry for more points, driving the length of the field once more for Harry Granger to run the ball in for a touchdown. The Cubs missed with the conversion pass attempt to keep the score at 46-0.
Finally the Cubs kicked the ball away on the kick-off, only to have the Predators return the ball even closer to the goal-line than on the onside kicks! The defence forced the Predator's into long yardage but failed to keep containment on the quarterback on the fourth down play, losing their shutout on a scramble that went all the way for a touchdown. The Cubs broke up the conversion pass attempt, making the score 46-6.
Tomkins then finished the game off the same way it had started, with a length of the field kick-off return for a touchdown. The Cubs were held out on the conversion run attempt, but the result was still a resounding 52-6 victory to the Cubs.
The Cubs return to Sydney Uni for their Homecoming Game against the UTS Gators next Friday.
Homecoming Heroes (3 April 2009)
The Cubs broke their Homecoming hoodoo and took a big step towards the play-offs with a 44-26 win over UTS at Sydney Uni on Friday night.
The Cubs went into the game knowing that UTS had spoiled their Homecoming party the last two seasons. They also knew that a win over their Eastern Division rivals was crucial in the race to the play-offs. With a good hometown crowd at the Square and lots to play for, it promised to be a good night for football.
And so it proved to be. UTS showed immediately that it had no intention of coming to the party, receiving a short opening kick-off and driving in for a score. UTS had played the defending champion Bondi Storm to two close losses in recent weeks and, with their quarterback controlling their offence both on the ground and in the air, it was plain to see how the Gators had put up 76 points on the Storm in those games.
However, the Cubs had the perfect reply. Hugh Tomkins continued his rare special teams form, fielding the kick-off and exploding through a group of UTS tacklers and all the way for an answering touchdown. Quarterback Sam Darcy converted on a draw play to give the Cubs an 8-6 lead.
The Cubs showed signs of pegging back the UTS offence on its next possession, good defence against the run forcing the Gators to convert third and fourth down plays to maintain the drive. A defensive pass interference call gave UTS a first down only 12 yards out, but the Cubs dug in and made a stand. Crucial pass break-ups from cornerbacks Chevy Abraham-Jacob and Matt Michael and great run defence on the edge from linebacker Thamsanq'a Dingani put the Gators into fourth down. Pressure on the UTS quarterback forced an incompletion and the Cubs looked to have made a crucial stop. However, the defence was straight back on the field after the offence coughed up possession with a fumble on the very next play. UTS made the Cubs pay for the mistake, running in a touchdown and passing for a two point conversion to re-take the lead 14-8.
Tomkins made it look like the offence would never get to run a play, busting the ensuing kick-off deep into the UTS half before finally being dragged down. The offence made amends for its earlier hiccup, needing only three plays on the drive to score: Darcy executing the option flawlessly to put Granger away on the pitch. Fullback Alex Watson was held out on the conversion to keep the score tied at 14 all. The defence kept the Gators in check as time ran out in the half, Matt Michaels coming up from cornerback to make a key stop to prevent a first down. The teams went into the break on even terms.
UTS looked like they had stolen a march on the Cubs when they recovered an onside kick to open the second half. However, they were simply unable to move the ball against a Cubs defensive unit which lifted its game to a whole new level. Defensive lineman Alex Sabharwal and linebacker Thamsanq'a Dingani rushed the UTS quarterback from the edge with the perfect balance of containment and penetration. They were able to get pressure and compress the pocket without losing outside leverage. Josh Sio and John Aoun provided the grunt work at defensive tackle, fighting to plug any escape route out of the front of the pocket and were rewarded with some heavy sacks in the backfield. UTS went into a three receiver set, looking to pass the ball and free up opportunities for its quarterback to run on draw plays and scrambles, but the Cubs sent them four and out, Matt Michael making another crucial bat down with his back to the play to force a turnover on downs.
The offence was ready to roll. Tony Nguyen, Daniel Pearson and Oscar Heidrich on the offensive line put up a screen of downfield blocks for Harry Granger cutting back against the grain on an option pitch. Granger cruised in behind the blocks and accelerated away for the go-ahead touchdown from mid-field. It looked like UTS had stopped the conversion attempt, wingback Kent Nyugen losing the ball after being hit at the goal-line, but Darcy swooped on the ball and ghosted into the endzone to post a bonus conversion and a 22-14 lead.
UTS stayed with its three receiver set on the next drive, but the result was the same. The Cubs even drove the Gators back, sacking the UTS quarterback on fourth down to get the ball back for its offence at mid-field. The offence was not about to release its grip on the game. On the first play of the drive, Darcy sucked in the UTS defence with a strong fake to Watson on the veer and took off left with Granger in support as the pitch man. Darcy attacked the edge at pace and, sensing over-pursuit, cut back hard with perfect timing to split the defence open for a runaway touchdown. Darcy then showed veteran poise on the conversion to buy time for Nguyen to come open before hitting him with a neat pass to push the score out to 30-14.
UTS went back to base offence for its next drive, hoping to generate some yards on the ground with its option attack. But the Cubs were all over the running game, again forcing the Gators into long yardage in their first set of downs. Scott Reynolds played his outside responsibility on the option to perfection, denying the pitch and forcing the quarterback into the eager arms of Hugh Tomkins to bring up fourth down and long. Defensive tackle Josh Sio smashed the pocket and brought down the UTS quarterback for a monster sack to force the Cubs' third straight turnover on downs.
Darcy then put the game away with a highlight reel play that started out as a blooper. The shotgun snap on a pass play never left the ground and rolled into the backfield. With the ball bobbling about at the feet of retreating linemen, it was time to cut your losses. Instead, Darcy coolly tracked down the ball, stepped through the line and found himself in the open. Realising that the defence had been run off in coverage, Darcy tucked the ball and motored through the Gators' secondary until he was finally brought down just a yard or so short of the goal-line. However, the touchdown was only delayed, Nguyen being released on an option pitch for the score. Nyugen was collared running an end around on the conversion, but the Cubs were now out by 36-14.
UTS were not going down without a fight, returning the following kick-off all the way for a touchdown. Tomkins stopped the two point run attempt but the Gators still had hope at 36-20.
That hope was all but gone after the Gators' onside kick sat up for Harry Granger, who evaded the cover team and returned serve with a kick-off return of his own. The biggest hit on the return occurred when Granger knocked over one of his own team mates in his rush to the endzone! Darcy seemed to have nowhere to go on a broken play on the conversion attempt, but cut back hard to wrongfoot the whole defence and score. With little time left, UTS managed to throw for a final touchdown to end the scoring at 44-26.
With their record now out to 6-1, the Cubs go into the Easter break knowing that their play-off future is in their own hands. Could you ask for any better Homecoming present?
Storm Riders (1 May 2009)
The Cubs finished the regular season on a high, beating the previously undefeated Bondi Storm 30-28 at the St George Hockey Centre on Friday night.
The Cubs received the opening kick-off and moved the ball confidently from the start. Fullback Alex Watson showed great strength, balance and determination to stay on his feet and drive for extra yards all night. Watson barreled into the endzone for the opening touchdown and Sam Darcy kept the ball on the conversion for an early 8-0 lead. The Storm answered back, driving in for a touchdown but failing on the conversion to keep the Cubs ahead 8-6.
The offence got back to work, this time Sam Darcy running in for a touchdown. The offensive line of Tony Nguyen, Daniel Pearson and Aiden Smith stuck to their task all game, opening running lanes for the option game against their larger opponents with speed off the ball and good technique. This time the Cubs were stopped on their 2 point run attempt, putting them ahead by 14-6.
The Storm's running game was proving tough to stop. Unlike the last game between the two teams, the Cubs defence was not giving up the big play, forcing the Storm to earn their points by maintaining a drive. The Storm were still able to muscle their way to a touchdown and a conversion to even up the score at 14-14.
With little time left on the clock, the Cubs kick-off returners made the mistake of leaving the ball for each other and giving up a touchback. The offence took it all in their stride and drove the ball the length of the field to the goal line. With just seconds left, a holding penalty saved the Storm and Sam Darcy was sacked on the Cubs' last-ditch pass attempt to end the half with the scores level.
It did not stay that way for long. The Storm received the kick-off and, on the first play from scrimmage, unloaded with a long pass play for a touchdown and followed up with the conversion to jump out to a 22-14 lead.
Now the pressure was on the Cubs offence and they responded with a big drive. After moving to mid-field, the Cubs stung the Storm with a trap play to wingback Harry Granger, who split the defence and steamed into the endzone from halfway for a touchdown. Granger dived into the endzone at the pylon for the conversion to tie up the score at 22-22.
It was now over to the defence to get a stop. John Aoun and Alex Sabharwal on the defensive line muscled up on their opponents to stop the Storm offensive line from getting upfield and onto the Cubs' linebackers. Three running plays were stopped for few yards, with John Aoun making a key tackle for a loss. On fourth down, the Storm quarterback tried to get the first down to the outside but was run down by linebacker Hugh Tomkins for a turnover on downs.
The offence had a chance to take back the initiative, but stalled on the drive. A holding call, a botched snap and a missed block all saw the offence going backwards. Punter Chevy Abrahams-Jacob at least got the ball back to midfield, but it was up to the defence again. They did not disappoint. Aoun sliced through for a sack on the quarterback and the run defence stood firm to again get the ball back on downs.
The offence was not about to waste its second chance. Darcy got the option game back on track and Watson picked up a crucial first down with a big second effort after being hit short of the marker. Darcy then ripped the Storm apart with a rollicking run that bobbed and weaved from sideline to sideline and all the way to the endzone. A doubtful clipping call set the Cubs back, but they were not to be denied. The offensive line was in charge and the team came together to run the ball down the throats of the Storm defence. Darcy ran the ball into the endzone again, and this time it counted, while Watson dove in for a crucial conversion to put the Cubs out by 30-22.
There was little time on the clock, but that hardly seemed a problem for the Storm when they returned the ensuing kick-off to within 5 yards of the endzone. Only a gutsy tackle by Kent Nguyen saved the return from going for a score. But what looked like a formality became more and more difficult. The defence was not about to give up without a fight. Linebacker Scott Reynolds played his containment to perfection, stringing out a sweep play and knocking the runner into touch short of the endzone. John Aoun burst through again for a key sack. Throw in a holding penalty and the Storm was going backwards. Eventually after about 8 plays, the Storm managed to fight into the endzone to bring themselves to within 2 points at 30-28.
It came down to the 2 point conversion. Bondi put their receivers to the wide side and ran their Australian quarterback on a sweep that way with everyone out in front to block. Corners Matt Michael and Chevy Abraham-Jacob fought through the receivers' blocks, linemen Sabharwal and Aoun fought down the line of scrimmage and linebackers Reynolds, Tomkins and Shattuck pursued to the ball. Tomkins put a hit on the quarterback short of the line and the rest of the defence, with Shattuck leading the way, took him down short of the endzone. The Cubs had held their line and were still ahead 30-28.
And that was how it would stay. The Cubs fielded the kick-off and drove the ball to kill the clock. The win took the Cubs' regular season record out to 8-2 and qualified them as the top wildcard team for a play-off against the Penrith City Chiefs, the Western Division champions. The Cubs are clearly a team on the rise and ready to make a run in the play-offs.
Cubs Win Title in Thriller (15 May 2009)
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The Sydney Uni Cubs are the 2009 Gridiron NSW Colts Champions after coming back from as many as 16 points behind to defeat the Bondi Storm 48-44 in the Championship Game at St George Hockey on Friday night. The game was a true epic, with the teams trading the lead as the game wound down and Bondi in position to win it all on the last play. With ten seconds left, Bondi were only 15 yards out and down by just 4 points. A touchdown would win the championship. Bondi went with a bootleg pass play, but Cubs cornerback Andrew Shattuck did not fall for the fake and his disciplined outside containment saw the quarterback unable to escape on the bootleg. In a desperate effort to keep the play alive, the quarterback scrambled out of a tackle, but the Cubs would not be denied. Shattuck, linebackers Scott Reynolds and Hugh Tomkins and lineman Alex Sabharwal chased the quarterback down and sacked him for a loss to end the game. |
 Sydney Uni Cubs - 2009 Gridiron NSW Colts Champions |
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The sideline erupted. Even Cameron Prentice's St Ignatius boarding house cheer squad stormed the field and celebrated the win. The Cubs had staged a mighty comeback and denied the Storm a three-peat of championships. But to understand the excitement, you need to go back to the start of the game. The Storm were two time defending champions coming into the 2009 season and looked to be cruising to an undefeated regular season until they were handed a 30-28 loss by the Cubs in the last round. The result meant there would be no element of surprise for the Cubs. The Storm were clearly stung by the loss and determined to send their seniors, including the current New South Wales quarterback, out with a hat-trick of championships. The entire Bondi team came out to the coin toss, standing in a line behind their captains and holding hands as a sign of solidarity. They certainly opened the game with a bang. On the first play from scrimmage, Bondi went with a three receiver formation and the Cubs failed to adjust. With time to throw, the Storm quarterback went downtown over the fingertips of the Cubs defensive back and all the way for a first play touchdown pass. The Bondi quarterback ran the conversion into the corner and the Storm had a lightning 8-0 lead. |
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The Cubs showed their resilience and brilliance on the next drive. Starting with bad field position after Harry Granger had been forced to retrieve the ball from the endzone, they struck back in two plays. On second and long on their own 15 yard line, quarterback Sam Darcy took an option right and sliced through the front line defence. Showing acceleration and poise, he stretched away from the linebackers and angled his run to the sideline to beat the pursuit into the endzone for a 65 yard touchdown. Fullback Alex Watson was kept out on the conversion attempt, but Darcy had signalled a warning to the Storm that he was here to play. Darcy would play an outstanding game, scoring 4 rushing touchdowns and deservedly taking home the Championship Game MVP award. But the Storm had a few outstanding players of their own. None more so than their kick returner, who took the next kick-off straight and hard through the middle of the coverage team and all the way for a touchdown. The Storm returner almost singlehandedly won the game for Bondi, returning 3 kick-offs for touchdowns and having a fourth called back |
 Quarterback Sam Darcy directed the offence and scored on 4 rushing touchdowns to earn the Championship Game MVP award |
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for a blocking penalty. This time Bondi was held out on the conversion, the defensive line smothering the quarterback sneak to leave the score at 14-6. The Cubs offence faltered on the next drive. The impressive Bondi defensive line was shutting down the dive option and Darcy was taken for a loss by a blitzing linebacker to bring on the punt team. Chevy Abraham-Jacob hit a nice punt, but the Bondi returner escaped the coverage and returned the ball back to the spot of the kick. The Cubs defence played tough and got the Storm into long yardage, but the quarterback escaped the grasp of a Cubs lineman and reversed his field for a runaway touchdown. The Bondi quarterback followed his blockers wide again for the 2 point conversion and a 22-6 lead. The Cubs were close, but not close enough. Players were slipping off near tackles for loss. Balls were just out of reach. But near enough was never going to be good enough. The Cubs needed to turn near misses into hits. Harry Granger got the comeback started with a strong kick-off return to midfield. From there Darcy got the option game moving, with Alex Watson digging out the tough yards on the dive and laying down some tremendous blocks on the speed option. Darcy got to the edge and put Granger away down the sideline on the pitch. Granger motored down the line and was just bumped into touch at the endzone. The touchdown was only delayed, Granger getting into the endzone at the pylon on the next play. The Bondi defence denied the dive play for the conversion to maintain a 22-12 lead. Now it was time for the defence to stand up. Bondi got a decent return to midfield and put its heavy unit on, aiming to run the ball in for a score to end the half. But the Cubs drove them backwards. John Aoun, Alex Sabharwal, Josh Sio and Payton Heath were splitting time on the defensive line and they did not give an inch on the drive. Bondi found a receiver open on third down, but scrambling defence in the secondary held the player short of the first down. On 4th and 1, Bondi went for it but were held half a yard short, linebacker Scott Reynolds making the first hit for the team to swarm and deny the first down. With less than 30 second left in the half, the Cubs mounted a hurry-up drive. Alex Klaric held an important catch to get out of bounds and give the Cubs time for one last shot. From 25 yards out, Darcy bought time in the pocket and just missed with a pass to receiver Kent Nguyen to the back of the endzone. Although the Cubs were down 22-12 at the half, they were to receive the second half kick-off and had some momentum coming out of the back end of the half. The Cubs started the second half from mid-field after a good return from Harry Granger. But they immediately found themselves in a tight spot. Darcy just missed with a first down pass attempt and good defence saw the Cubs facing 4th and 10 at half-way. Offensive Co-ordinator Kiernan Dorney called the speed option and Darcy pitched the ball to Granger with plenty of work to do. Granger showed speed to turn the corner and dropped his shoulder to pick up the crucial first down by a couple of yards. The Cubs kept the running game rolling behind the offensive line of Tony Nguyen, Daniel Pearson and Oscar Heidrich, with Aiden Smith in relief, and drove in for a score to Sam Darcy over the left side. Darcy cut back hard to score on the conversion to bring the score back to 22-20. The Bondi kick-off returner dashed any hopes of a defensive stand by returning the next kick-off all the way. The quarterback snuck into the endzone to give a 10 point lead back to the Storm at 30-20. Hugh Tomkins then showed his own brand of bustling running, using speed and strength to take the ball over the half-way line. The Cubs offence was clearly in a groove and the Bondi defence seemed powerless to shut down the outside option game. Darcy tore through the defence, selling a number of defenders on a fake pitch, to score on another long range touchdown run to put the Cubs right back in it. Tomkins carried the ball from out of a new-look formation for the conversion and the Cubs had brought the score back to 30-28. The defence finally got to take the field after the kick-off coverage team managed to hold the Bondi returner to midfield. Again, Bondi came at the Cubs with its vaunted running game, but the Cubs defence was winning the battle at the line. Alex Sabharwal fought down the line to take the quarterback for no gain at the sideline to bring up 3rd and 10. Good pressure up the middle from Hugh Tomkins and good coverage from cornerback Matt Michael combined to see the pass attempt fall incomplete. Bondi also went for it on 4th and 10, but turned the ball over on downs when the Bondi quarterback could not hit his receiver on the crossing pattern. The Cubs seized on the chance and drove the short distance for a touchdown - Sam Darcy again keeping the ball for the score. The Cubs had come back from 16 points down to hit the lead, but could not put Tomkins in again on the conversion to see the score remain at 34-30 to the Cubs. Like a bad dream, the Bondi returner did it again, returning the kick-off all the way for a touchdown with the aid of a not-so-subtle block in the back on Hugh Tomkins at midfield. The officials waved off the flag, but at least Bondi failed on their conversion attempt to keep the score to 36-34. Time was winding down in the game and the crowd was into it. A handful of Bondi supporters on the Uni sideline had to be ordered back behind the fence and the schoolboy boarders in the Uni crowd started a chant of "Fire up Uni, Fire up". Hugh Tomkins fired up on the return to give the offence good field position. After running the Storm defence ragged on the option play all night, Dorney picked the perfect time to call the wingback reverse, Harry Granger cruising into the endzone in front of the cheering Uni crowd with the entire Bondi defence wrongfooted. The 2 point run was stopped, but the Cubs had the lead back at 40-36. The Cubs tried a different option on the kick-off, kicking high and short to the middle row of the return team. The return did not go all the way, but Bondi were only 25 yards out when they started their next drive. The Storm heavy unit came on again and the battle in the trenches resumed. The Cubs held on first and second down for little gain. But on third down, the Storm cracked the defence to run it in for a touchdown to take back the lead. The Storm quarterback ran in the conversion to give Bondi the advantage at 44-40. How would the shoot-out end? Who would get to fire the last shot? On the kick-off, Tomkins again carted the return for good yardage. Tomkins was enlisted into the offence and the Cubs drove downfield. Tomkins carried for big yards down the Bondi sideline to get the ball in range and then dived at full stretch on the next play for the go-ahead score. Darcy worked the option to the left and sent Granger away on the pitch for the conversion to set up the finale at 48-44 Cubs. There was little time on the clock. Kent Nguyen tried to drop the kick over the second level of blockers and the unfortunate up-back who fielded the ball was nailed in a devastating tackle by Alex Watson. The Cubs linebackers - Thamsanq'a Dingani, Hugh Tomkins and Scott |
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Reynolds - had pursued hard to the ball all game and were not about to let the Storm run in for a score. Bondi completed a pass to within 15 yards of the goalline, but cornerback Chevy Abraham-Jacob made a sure tackle to force the Storm to make one more play to win. On the last and biggest play of the game, it was an unassuming 14 year old boy who kept his head in the madness of the moment, executed the technique he had been taught at training and corralled the dangerous Bondi quarterback to deliver the championship. The play was a glowing tribute to the work of Defensive Co-ordinator, Liam Erby, who brought together a talented group of players into a true defensive team. The championship was a deserved reward for the senior class who had stuck together as a young team last year and worked hard all season to lead the squad. Captain Alex Watson and seniors Matt Michael, Scott Reynolds, Tony Nguyen, Aiden Smith, John Aoun and Josh Sio may have played their last game for the Cubs, but they could not have hoped for a better send off. |
 Captains Alex Watson (48), Alex Klaric (82) and Hugh Tomkins (26) savour the victory |
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 Head Coach David Thode (5th from left) flanked by Defensive Co-ordinator Liam Erby (4th from left), Offensive Coordinator Kiernan Dorney (6th from left) and the balance of the coaching staff |
Congratulations must also go to Head Coach David Thode for building a cohesive and dangerous team. The decision taken in the pre-season to install a new offence was clearly vindicated. Offensive Co-ordinator Kiernan Dorney worked up a powerful offensive scheme and Defensive Co-ordinator Liam Erby put together a unit which conceded less points per game than any other in the league. Important assistance was given by coaches Andrew Matthews on the offensive line, Dave Hall, Matthew Freeman and Stephen Dunne on offence and Joe Lim, Jim Bray, Jay Tamanivalu and Andrew Ogborne on defence. But in the end it is the players who have to deliver to win a championship. And it was the Cubs who delivered on their promise to win the 2009 Gridiron NSW Colts Championship in one of the most exciting and well-played games in Colts history. |
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Lions Captains Named (28 August 2009)
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Leigh Louey-Gung, Mac Shine, Joe Lim and David Thode were named as 2009 Lions captains at the Annual Dinner held at the Grandstand Sports Bar last Friday night. Nick Baldwin and Matt Croasdaile were selected as reserves. Head Coach Stephen Dunne named the captains following a vote taken by the team during the pre-season. In making the announcement, Stephen Dunne noted that all of the captains had graduated through the ranks of the colts and continued the recent trend of being the youngest leadership group in the league. Between them, the 2009 captains have won 34 Gridiron NSW Division 1 championships. Sydney Uni American Football congratulates the players on receiving the honour and wishes them good luck in leading the team for the 2009 season. |
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2009 Lions captains Croasdaile, Shine, Thode and Lim with Coach Dunne |
Leigh Louey-Gung wins Randel Mann Award (28 August 2009)
The Randel Mann Award for the 2009 pre-season was awarded to Leigh Louey-Gung at the Annual Dinner held at the Grandstand Sports Bar last Friday night. The Randel Mann Award is presented to the player who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the team by his attendance, effort and attitude at pre-season training and by seeking out ways to assist and inspire his fellow players. The award is named in honour of Randel Mann, who played for the Lions in the early 1990s and inspired all who knew him with his enthusiasm and team spirit. Leigh Louey-Gung had put in a strong pre-season, particularly in training up the defensive backs. Sydney Uni American Football congratulates Leigh Louey-Gung on the well-deserved honour.
Lions Streak to New Record (5 September 2009)
 Daniel Kelen took control of the game from the outset with 9 straight completions |
Sydney Uni opened the 2009 season by breaking its own Gridiron NSW record for consecutive victories in defeating the Northwestern Predators 58-0 at UWS Hockey on Saturday night for its 34th straight win. Quarterback Daniel Kelen must have sensed something was in the air as he started on a hot streak of his own, completing his first 9 passes to equal the team record for consecutive completions in a game (held with Andrew Ogborne v. Hills District Eagles, 20/7/1986), and finished with 5 touchdown passes to also tie the team record. And he was not alone in his record setting performance, with receiver Tristan Cauhepe catching touchdown passes of 37, 43, 25 and 40 yards to equal the team record for touchdown receptions in a game (held with Mathew Freeman v Wollongong Mustangs, 15/8/2005) and miss out by just 7 yards on equalling the club record for pass reception yards in a game (171 yards held by Gordon Ogborne v Liverpool Pirates, 30/7/1989). However, it was not just a two man show for the Lions. Indeed, for a season opener, the game |
 Tristan Cauhepe celebrates the first of his record 4 touchdown receptions |
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was remarkable for the high standard of play across the entire University roster. The game did not start auspiciously for the Lions. After kicking off, freshman Andreas Lundin was forced into making an open field tackle to save a touchdown after the Predators took the return through the middle of the Lions' coverage. A quarterback keeper took the ball to the 15 yard line, where the Lions defence stiffened to force on the field goal unit. The kick was straight but just short. That would be the closest the Predators would come to scoring all evening. The offence took over in style. Tight end James Gifford reached over the shoulder of his defender to haul in a pass and lug it for 24 yards. Kelen then hit Cauhepe in stride for a 37 yard run away touchdown and the opening score for the season. Dorney converted for a 7-0 lead. The defence soon had the ball back. On the first play of the next series, cornerback David Bourke had good position in man coverage |
 The Lions played smothering team defence to hold the Predators scoreless |
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 Cauhepe dragged his defender into the endzone for TD #2 |
to come back for an underthrown ball and scoop the interception before it hit the turf. Kelen mixed runs from Croasdaile with passes to his new receiving corps of Cauhepe, Frazer and Dorney before Croasdaile punched the ball into the endzone from 3 yards out. The PAT was missed to leave the score at 13-0. The Lions defence maintained the early pressure, with starting linebackers Joe Lim, Nick Baldwin, Greg Wernecke and Tom Weaver particularly active. Together they would combine for more than half of the total Lions tackles in the game, and freshman Tom Weaver ended the next drive by sacking the quarterback with defensive end Ian Triganza on third down. The offence took only 4 plays to drive the length of the field after a touchback on the punt. Winning a starting spot at a third different position for the Lions, receiver Kiernan Dorney held two passes on the drive - the second for 26 yards and a touchdown. Dorney also beat the defence
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 Fady Aoun and the Lions defence kept the Predators to just 8 net yards on the ground |
to the corner on a 2 point pass from Kelen to move the score out to 21-0. The Uni defence continued to tighten the screws on the Predators. Wernecke and Triganza combined for a sack on first down and freshman linebacker Chris Noble hurried the Predators' quarterback into throwing incomplete on second down with a strong contain rush. Captain and safety Leigh Louey-Gung completed the three and out series with a pass break-up on third down. The Lions drove out from their own 5 yard line but stalled on the drive when Kelen finally missed with his tenth pass attempt of the game on third down. The fact that the pass was right on the money and dropped only serves to highlight the team element involved in any individual performance. The defence shut down the next Predators drive and the
offence took over at midfield after a nifty punt return by Cauhepe - and he
had more in store on the ensuing drive. On second down, Kelen threw a
deep sideline pass for Cauhepe. The Predators' defender got a hand |
 Cauhepe had to fight for his third TD |
 Ian Triganza lead the Lions with 2 sacks and kept the pressure on all game |
on the ball but only managed to tip it into the air. Cauhepe showed good concentration to snare the tipped ball and then coasted for the line, believing the defensive back had fallen to the ground. Luckily, a surprised Cauhepe had enough momentum to drag the defender into the endzone for a 43 yard touchdown. Kelen was denied on a 2 point run attempt by Predators safety (and ex-Lion) Mark Hall to keep the score at 27-0. Despite plenty of practice, the Lions kick-off coverage was not improving. The kickers were not getting distance and the coverage team was failing to break down and make the tackle. The Predators returned the next kick-off to the Lions 28 yard line and took a shot at the endzone with a first down pass attempt. However, cornerback Kevin Trihn and linebacker Joe Lim had the play covered, with Lim cutting in from an underneath zone to pick off the pass and return it to the Predators' 32 yard line. From there, Croasdaile carried the ball to the 25 yard line, where Kelen launched |
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another deep ball in the direction of Cauhepe. This time Cauhepe had to use his judgment and body position to beat the defender to a contested ball and bring in the touchdown. The PAT was good for a 34-0 lead. Another weak effort on kick-off coverage saw the Predators start with the ball on the Lions 30 yard line. Penalties against the defence saw the ball moved to the 5 yard line with the Predators threatening to score with only seconds left in the half. A muffed snap put the Predators quarterback under pressure and in the scramble that followed, Greg Wernecke caused, and Nick Baldwin recovered, a fumble to snuff out the threat. The half ended with the Lions in control at 34-0. The Lions extended their lead immediately after the break. On the first play from scrimmage, Croasdaile took a hand-off left behind a lead block from Piotr Milewski and surged up the left hand sideline. A strong cut against the pursuit saw Croasdaile go the distance and score in the opposite right hand corner of the endzone. |
 Croasdaile took the first play of the second half 61 yards for a touchdown |
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 Leigh Louey-Gung picked off the Lions' third interception and returned it to the Predators 7 yard line to set up a touchdown to Croasdaile |
Croasdaile would be in again a few plays later. Leigh Louey-Gung showed great anticipation and technique in zone coverage to cut in front of the intended receiver, pick off the pass and return it to the Predators 7 yard line. Croasdaile did the rest for a 46-0 lead. The Lions maintained their intensity all game. Freshman running back David Hall kept the ground game churning behind an impressive offensive line. But it was back to Cauhepe again for the next touchdown, Kelen laying a perfect pass out for Cauhepe to run away for a 40 yard score. Quarterback Andrew Frawley engineered the final score, making a nice backside read to find Croasdaile uncovered out of the backfield and delivering a fine pass for a 30 yard touchdown. At 58-0, the Lions had opened their season in style and showed that they are still hungry for success. Beware the hungry Lions. |
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Lions Win Shovel for Coach Dunne's Ton (12 September 2009)
 The Lions' most capped player, David Allen, carried the Foundation Shovel to the coin toss |
Sydney Uni retained the Foundation Shovel with a powerful 54-13 victory over the Bondi Raiders on Saturday to chalk up the 100th career win for Head Coach Stephen Dunne. It has been quite a year already for Coach Dunne. In April, he was named Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness Coach of the Year for 2008. Just last week, he was appointed Head Coach of the NSW Wolfpack for the 2010 Gridiron Australia National Championships. So to rack up his 100th career win with a typically impressive victory over the Lions' traditional rivals for the Foundation Shovel - priceless. When Stephen Dunne took on the role of Head Coach, an important part of his job description was to beat the Raiders. There can be no grounds for dismissal on that score, as the Lions have a perfect 17-0 record against the Raiders under Coach Dunne. He even had the pleasure of seeing his old jersey number (19) - now being worn by Tight End James Gifford - tear the Raiders apart with 123 yards and 3 touchdowns. Could it get any better? |
 Coach Dunne basks in the glow of his 100th career victory |
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Indeed, it was Gifford who got the Lions on track after they had uncharacteristically coughed up a fumble on their first possession. Kelen found Gifford open on a bootleg pass from the Lions' 9 yard line and Gifford did the rest, bumping off his coverage and outrunning the secondary to go the length of the field for a 71 yard touchdown. Gifford would have a career day, dominating the Raiders' secondary with his speed, power and great hands. The Lions defence never let the Raiders into the game. The Raiders are another of the Gridiron NSW teams running the spread offence, but they certainly could not run out of the spread. The Raiders' first 8 run plays were taken for losses. They would finish with 16 rushes for minus 28 yards. When you are going backwards on the ground, it is difficult to stay in the game. Everyone was playing their part on defence. The "Gold Rush" of Ian Triganza, Fady Aoun, Craig Morgan, Tau Saipaia, Chady Aoun, Troy Carrick and Alex Denby dominated the |
 Craig Morgan (82) and the "Gold Rush" hunted down the Raiders' backfield |
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 Freshman linebacker Chris Noble fights to strip the ball from the Raiders' ball carrier |
line of scrimmage and attacked the backfield all game. Triganza made 5 tackles and was in on 2 tackles for loss and a sack. Fady Aoun made 4 tackles and was in on 3 tackles for loss and a sack. The pressure was relentless. The linebackers flourished behind this dominant line. The starting gang of four of Joe Lim, Nick Baldwin, Tom Weaver and Chris Noble all made big contributions, but special mention must be made of freshman Chris Noble. In only his second career game, Noble dominated from his outside linebacker spot, making 5 tackles, including 3 tackles for loss and a sack, and stripping the quarterback to recover the fumble for a turnover. Despite giving up a 15 yard touchdown pass late in the game, the secondary was also strong, allowing only 66 pass yards on 8 completions from 20 attempts. The Lions broke up 6 pass attempts, with safety Leigh Louey-Gung pulling in his second interception for the season. |
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 James Gifford burned the Raiders for 3 touchdowns |
After being kick-started by Gifford's length of the field score, the offence roared into life. Daniel Kelen used receivers Tristan Cauhepe and Thomas Frazer to get the ball down close and Matt Croasdaile to power the ball into the endzone for the second touchdown. Kelen then found freshmen tight end Andreas Lundin for 2 points on his first career catch. Gifford was the main man on the third scoring drive: knocking down defenders on a rampaging catch and run for 22 yards before hauling in a tough running catch at full stretch at the back corner of the endzone for his second touchdown and a 21-0 lead. The Lions were in again before half-time, Croasdaile scoring from 3 yards out after Kiernan Dorney had caught a third down pass for 27 yards to bring the varisty into range. At 28-0, the Lions were well in control at the break. Kelen and the receiving corps were in the groove, taking what was on offer and turning it into much, much more. Kelen would
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 Tristan Cauhepe catches one over the middle and is gone for a 40 yard score |
 Matt Croasdaile broke away for a 39 yd touchdown run to start the second half |
finish with 299 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions on 15 completions from 20 attempts; while Gifford, Cauhepe and Dorney would finish with 4 receptions each. Croasdaile showed there was to be no let up from the offence after the break, taking the second play from scrimmage 39 yards for a touchdown. The Lions then conceded their first points for the year, allowing the Bondi returner to cut back through the middle of their kick-off coverage for a touchdown. The Raiders tried for 2 points out of their offset formation, but Craig Morgan, Chris Noble and Nick Baldwin were alert to the danger and combined to deny the conversion. The offence continued to roll, Croasdaile churning out the yards on the ground behind his offensive line of Cameron Lawrence, Aaron Carbury, Tim Snape, David Thode and David Allen. After driving 47 yards to the Raiders' 18, the Lions were forced to convert on 4th and 7. Kelen delivered a |
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beautiful touch pass to Gifford, who had worked in behind his coverage, and the Lions tight end made another great over-the-shoulder grab for a touchdown. The Raiders converted two fourth down plays of their own on their next drive, the second one for a touchdown from 15 yards out. The Lions' response was quick. On the next play from scrimmage, Kelen delivered to Tristan Cauhepe in stride over the middle and Cauhepe did the rest, juking the secondary and running away for a 40 yard touchdown pass. The final score was posted by running back David Hall. Hall had ground out 61 tough yards as a foil to Croasdaile in the backfield and earned his first career touchdown with a 1 yard run. After the game, Coach Dunne was presented with a plaque to commemorate his coaching milestone. A nice finish to a good day's work at the office. |
 David Hall rushed for 61 yards and his first career touchdown |
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| Click here for full game highlights | ||
Lions Run Over Pirates (19 September 2009)
 Matt Croasdaile's game was as pretty as an oil painting |
Sydney Uni rode on the back of a 238 yard performance from Matt Croasdaile to run over the West Sydney Pirates 47-12 on Saturday night. While the game was played under the cover of a smokey bushfire haze at the UWS Hockey Centre, nothing could hide the dominance of the Lions over last year's Waratah Bowl opponent. This was the second big game in a row for Croasdaile against the Pirates. The last time the teams had met in the 2008 Waratah Bowl, Croasdaile had rushed for 211 yards and 3 touchdowns. This time Croasdaile was even better, racking up 238 yards on only 23 carries with 4 rushing touchdowns. As a game performance, it was second in his career only to his 261 yards against the Raiders last year and ranks seventh on the all-time list for the club. His direct and powerful running had the Pirates in trouble right from the start. After the Lions had sent the Pirates three and out on their first possession, Croasdaile ripped off carries of 15, 13, 13, 7 and 10 yards to hammer the ball into the endzone on the Lions' opening drive. |
 Cameron Lawrence and the Uni offensive line cleared the way for 290 yards on the ground |
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And there would be no let up from there. The defence had also started fast. On the opening series, the Lions had driven the Pirates backwards. On the second, they forced a turnover, cornerback David Bourke holding a tipped pass for his second interception of the season. Croasdaile covered the 20 yards to the endzone in 2 carries and the Lions were ahead 13-0. While the defence gave up a first down to a penalty on the next drive, they gave up nothing else. A pass break up by cornerback Suren Wickramasinghe and a tackle for loss by linebacker Joe Lim saw the Pirates' stall at mid-field. A punt to the 1 yard line meant that the Lions would have to go the length of the field to score. No problem. On first down, Croasdaile sprung through a hole to burst away for 44 yards, with 15 yards tacked on the end for a late hit out of bounds. Two plays later and quarterback Daniel Kelen fired an 11 yard pass to tight end James Gifford for a |
 Captain Joe Lim (56) lead from the front with 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack |
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 The Lions' offensive line and backfield were in step in a commanding performance |
touchdown. The Lions had gone 79 yards in 3 plays to cement their dominance over the Pirates. Croasdaile bustled into the endzone for a 2 point conversion to send the score out to 21-0. All of these yards on the ground were being won behind an outstanding performance from the offensive line. Tight end James Gifford and the starting line of Cameron Lawrence, David Thode, Tim Snape, Aaron Carbury and David Allen, with help from Paul Edwards, Andrew Matthews and Will Lerpinierne, combined for their best showing of the year to date. The line read their assignments in concert, the footwork was sharp and the timing was spot on. It all added up to 290 rushing yards at 8.5 yards per carry and no sacks allowed - a dominant display. The defence continued to stymie the Pirates. Defensive end Piotr Milewski batted down a pass and linemen Troy Carrick and Tau Saipaia combined with linebacker Tom Weaver to sack the Pirates' quarterback on third down to end |
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the next drive within the first set of downs. Apart from an automatic first down on a roughing the passer call, the defence did not give up another first down in the first quarter. This defensive performance was all the more impressive for its reliance on the full squad. A combination of absence, sickness and injury had left the Lions without three veteran starters in their front seven. And while Captains Joe Lim and Leigh Louey-Gung would lead the tackle count, there were important contributions all across the roster. Freshmen linebackers Tom Weaver and Chris Noble were chief among them. Weaver made 7 tackles and was in on 2 tackles for loss and 2 sacks, while Noble made 8 tackles and lead the team with 3 tackles for loss. But there were many others. On the line, freshman Alex Denby and veteran Troy Carrick each had 4 tackles and were in on a tackle for loss and a sack. Linebacker Andy West contributed a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. In the secondary, sophmore cornerbacks Suren |
 Linebacker Tom Weaver lead the Lions with 2 sacks |
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 Louey-Gung (37) was a force with 9 tackles, 2 for loss, a fumble caused and 3 pass break ups |
Wickramasinghe and Kevin Trinh clamped a tight cover on the dangerous Pirates receivers, with Wickramasinghe taking his first career interception, while safeties John Tamanivalu and Matt Garman pitched in with 6 and 4 tackles respectively. The defence was tested late in the half. The offence had been unable to convert after being penalised 15 yards on first down and, on the ensuing drive, the Pirates converted on third and fourth downs to move the ball to the Lions' 16 yard line. Carrick and Denby combined for a tackle for loss which set up 4th and 9 from the 15. Just like in the 2008 Waratah Bowl, the Pirates went for it on 4th down in the red zone but, unlike that game, safety Louey-Gung made good ground to break up the pass attempt and deny the score. Unfortunately, the offence gave the ball right back, Dan Kelen throwing to a wide open Pirates defender in the flats. On third down, the Lions rush just failed to take down the Pirates' quarterback and his receiver made a nice diving grab to score on a 13 yard pass. Louey-Gung caused a fumble to deny the 2 |
 Kiernan Dorney (11) rose up to snare a close-range touchdown in the second half |
 Defensive Co-ordinator Ryan Wonser got a strong performance from the full defensive roster |
point play, but the Pirates had brought the score back to 21-6. The Lions offence did not have long before the half, but they took only three plays to score. A well executed bubble screen saw Tristan Cauhepe take the ball from mid-field to the 7 yard line. From there, Thomas Frazer worked himself open for Kelen to deliver a touchdown pass to the right pylon of the endzone. The half ended with the Lions well on top at 27-6. The second half saw the Lions pull away to a 40-6 lead to kill off the contest. Kiernan Dorney caught a 2 yard slant for a touchdown to finish off a patient 9 play drive covering 47 yards to open the half. The Lions drove all the way down to the 1 yard line on their next possession after Gifford pulled in a 30 yard reception, only to have 2 touchdowns called back and turn over the ball over on downs after being repelled back to the 25 yard line on penalties. |
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The Pirates then mounted a drive of their own to the Lions' 18 yard line before Wickramasinghe held a key interception on an overthrown pass to end the threat. The Lions took the opportunity to finish off the game. Croasdaile handled the ball 6 times on a drive covering 66 yards to bull his way into the endzone from 4 yards out for a touchdown and a 40-6 lead. Although the Pirates scored in the fourth quarter after the defence had leaked a 26 yard run to give up field position, the Lions hit back straight after. Thomas Frazer broke the kick-off return for 35 yards to give the Lions a short field to work with and quarterback Andrew Frawley directed the offence in for another score on the ground to Croasdaile - this time from 5 yards. Andreas Lundin converted the PAT to round off the scoring for the night at 47-12. The win confirmed the Lions as the class of the Gridiron NSW competition and pitched the Pirates back into a field including the UTS Gators and the Sutherland Seahawks |
 Kieran Deale (38) and the Gold Rush stopped the Pirates running game in its tracks |
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 Running back David Hall stretched out for 44 yards on 7 carries |
as the teams most likely to challenge for the championship this year. The Pirates will face the Gators next week, while Sydney Uni will play Sutherland at the St George Hockey Centre, Mutch Ave, Kyeemagh (kick-off at 1pm) in a replay of the 2008 play-off match-ups. The Seahawks were impressive 56-20 victors over the Bondi Raiders on the week-end and appear to have taken positive strides in the opening games this season. The week 4 action this Saturday promises to reveal much about where the top teams are headed this year.
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 Cornerback Kevin Trinh enjoyed a solid showing from the Lions' secondary |
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| Lions Grind Out Win in the Wind (26 September 2009) | ||
 Andrew Frawley had a tough first career start facing a strong wind and a strong rush |
Sydney Uni relied on its defence and a stand-out showing from stand-in quarterback Kiernan Dorney to overcome the Sutherland Seahawks 26-6 at the St George Hockey Centre on Saturday. A strong northerly wind blew away the dust which had threatened to settle on Sydney for the second time in a week but also grounded the passing attacks of both teams. In the face of this blustery wind, it was a case of which team would better handle the conditions. In the end, the Lions did more than enough to get the victory, but not before being made to earn it by a feisty Seahawks outfit. Andrew Frawley was given his first career start for the University in the absence of Daniel Kelen, and he had the Lions on the move early. After the Seahawks had been sent three and out on their first drive, Frawley mixed in a completion to Tristan Cauhepe with runs to Matt Croasdaile to march the team to a first and goal on the 6 yard line. But the Lions could not punch it in. On fourth down, Croasdaile was held 3 yards short for |
 Piotr Milewski kept the pressure on the Seahawks' backfield and made 6 tackles |
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a turnover on downs to give the Seahawks' defence an early lift. The Seahawks' offence would get an early lift too. On the second play of the ensuing drive, the Sutherland halfback took a toss sweep behind good blocking at the edge and beat the Lions' defensive pursuit to the corner. The back went 40 yards up the Lions' sideline and only a good cover tackle from safety Matt Garman prevented a length of the field touchdown. The Lions' defence drove Sutherland backwards on the next set of downs to force a punt, but the Seahawks' running game would prove difficult to contain. The strong wind was allowing the Seahawks to put eight defenders into the box to challenge the Lions' ground game and pressure the backfield. The tactic worked on the next drive, with the Lions again turning the ball over on downs after Croasdaile had twice been stopped for little gain. |
 Matt Garman played a strong game with 5 tackles, including one to save a touchdown |
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 Kiernan Dorney came in at quarterback in relief of the injured Frawley |
The Lions made amends on their next possession. Starting on their own 11 yard line, the Lions ran the ball the length of the field in 7 plays, the key play being a 40 yard burst from Croasdaile on third down. Croasdaile ran the ball in from 3 yards for the opening touchdown, but his conversion run was stopped to leave the score at 6-0. The defence held the Seahawks in check on their next possession, linebacker Chris Noble tackling the Sutherland running back for a 6 yard loss on third down to kill the drive. The Lions then drove to mid-field but, on third down, Frawley was struck in the jaw by a Seahawk helmet on a blitz and had to come out of the game. This put veteran Kiernan Dorney in at quarterback and he showed off the form which had seen him win the starting job for the Australian Outback on the recent tour of Great Britain. The Lions got the ball back with time for one last drive before the half. Dorney |
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completed two short passes to Cauhepe to get the drive under way and then set up a 13 yard screen to Croasdaile to get the ball to the 5 yard line with 3 seconds left. However, the Seahawks broke up the final pass to keep the Lions out of the endzone and end the half on a high. Sutherland had only made one first down all half, yet its two goal line stops meant that it was behind by only 6 points. The Lions had no choice but to buckle up and knuckle down to the task of grinding out a win. The Lions got right to it. Tristan Cauhepe took the first play of the second half 23 yards on a jet sweep and Croasdaile carried twice more to get the varsity down close. The Lions had a slice of luck, with tackle Cameron Lawrence recovering a Croasdaile fumble at the 1 yard line, before Dorney kept the ball on a bootleg for a touchdown and a 12-0 lead. The Lions defence was consistently winning the battle on first down to put Sutherland |
 Croasdaile churned out 188 yards to keep the chains moving |
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 Joe Lim (56), Chris Noble and Kevin Trinh combine to take down the Sutherland tight end short of the first down marker |
into long yardage situations. Piotr Milewski was enjoying his return to the defensive line and got in on 6 tackles while Ian Triganza contributed 3 tackles and a tackle for loss. Joe Lim lead the defence from the front, topping the tackle count with 7, while fellow linebackers Chris Noble and Tom Weaver followed closely behind. In the secondary, the Lions started with a new combination of Matt Garman and John Tamanivalu at the safety positions and they performed well, closing in on the underneath patterns quickly while taking away the deep ball. Sutherland went for it on fourth down on its next possession but was unable to convert, handing the ball back to the Lions after Joe Lim, Chris Noble and cornerback Kevin Trinh held the receiver short of the first down. But the Lions fumbled away their next two chances to extend the lead. Tight End James Gifford held a key third down catch and then motored away down the sideline for 36 yards before cutting inside behind a downfield block from Mac Shine. As Gifford spun out of the clutches of one |
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defender, he was collected from the blindside by another and lost the ball. The defence soon had the ball back, only for the offence to turn it over just as quickly. After Cauhepe had scampered for 21 yards to mid-field, Croasdaile set sail on a 17 yard run only to be stripped of the ball while in full flight at the 20 yard line. The defence decided to take matters into its own hands. After the Seahawks had been driven backwards, Tom Weaver blocked the punt to hand the ball over to the offence on the 14 yard line. On third down, Dorney rolled out and pitched a fastball into the hands of Tristan Cauhepe for a 6 yard touchdown reception and an 18-0 lead. University's final scoring drive was, perhaps, its most impressive. Starting from their own 19 yard line, the Lions handed the ball to Croasdaile to get moving, his three carries taking the ball out to the 31. A well-executed bubble screen to Cauhepe went for 18 yards and a further run by |
 Cauhepe chimed in with 44 yards on the ground |
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 Dorney iced the game with a 26 yard touchdown run |
Croasdaile put the ball on the Seahawks' 26 yard line. On second and five, Dorney rolled left and then took off upfield, surprising the Seahawks with his direct attack. Dorney cut back to the centre, broke a tackle and tore through the heart of the Sutherland defence for a 26 yard touchdown. He completed the coup de grace by finding Tom Frazer over the middle for a 2 point conversion and a 26-0 lead. The Lions gave up a touchdown on a 38 yard touchdown pass to Brandon Martel late in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring at 26-6. Kiernan Dorney finished with 7 completions from 10 attempts for 93 yards and a touchdown - an outstanding effort even setting aside the conditions. But he also had 31 yards on 3 carries for 2 touchdowns (and a 6 yard reception to boot!). With Kelen set to return next game, the Lions clearly have an embarrassment of riches at quarterback. |
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| New Jerseys, Same Lions (10 October 2009) | ||
 The Lions unveiled their new generation game jerseys against the Predators |
Sydney Uni launched its new jerseys in style by handing the Northwestern Predators an old-fashioned drubbing at Mascot Oval on Saturday night. While the field was damp from the light rain which fell during the match, nothing dampened the play of the Lions. Sydney Uni made big play after big play to put up its highest ever score of 67-0 against the Predators. The first of the big plays came on the Lions’ second play from scrimmage. After linebacker Chris Noble had batted down a third down pass to send the Predators three and out on their first drive, the Lions gained the ball on their own 12 yard line after the punt. Croasdaile burst off tackle on second down and was surprised to find no-one in the secondary to meet him. Wide receiver Tristan Cauhepe turned back to block the only defender with a chance at making a play and Croasdaile took the ball 68 yards on his first carry for a touchdown.
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The big plays kept coming. Free safety Anthony Sinton picked off an interception over the middle on the Predators’ next possession to get the ball back for the Lions at mid-field. On the second play of the drive, Dan Kelen hit Cauhepe on a crossing pattern and Cauhepe did the rest, out-flanking and out-running the coverage for a 43 yard touchdown. Cauhepe had torched the Predators for 4 touchdowns in the Week 1 clash, but must have felt he had some unfinished business against the Predators. His 164 receiving yards in that game had been 7 yards short of the team record and he was determined not to fall short again. In the Week 1 game, Cauhepe had run under a succession of long balls for big yardage; whereas, in this game, the big yardage mostly came in yards made after the catch. Cauhepe kept his balance on the slippery field to hold 7 catches and jink and juke his way to 197 yards and a new team record for reception yards in a game. And the big plays just kept coming. On the first play of the next Predators’ drive, Ian Triganza dropped back into his curl zone and picked off an intended slant pass to get the ball back for the Lions only 33 yards out. Receiver Kiernan Dorney held a tough catch on a slant pattern and then doubled up to hold an 8 yard bootleg pass from Kelen for a touchdown. The PAT was wide to see the first quarter end with the Lions leading 20-0. Ian Triganza was at it again on the next drive, combining, first, with lineman Fady Aoun and, then, with linebacker Leigh Louey-Gung, to drop the Predators’ quarterback for losses on the first two plays. The Lions got the ball back at mid-field after the punt and Cauhepe exploded for his second 43 yard touchdown on his second catch of the day. Like the first touchdown, the yards on the bubble screen were all Cauhepe, taking the play all the way across the field and into the endzone behind great downfield blocking from receivers Tom Frazer, Kiernan Dorney and James Gifford. The Predators advanced into the Lions’ half and picked up their first first down on a roughing the passer call on the next drive, but turned the ball over after the Lions’ secondary forced an incompletion on 4th and 10. The Lions’ secondary played the conditions well. The slippery ball was not so easy to catch and footing was less than secure on the wet ground. Cornerback Jeffrey Cheung was making his first ever start for the Lions, but he and the rest of the secondary, corners David Bourke and Kevin Trinh and safeties Matt Garman, Anthony Sinton and John Tamanivalu, played with veteran poise to keep the passing game in front of them and come up from deep to break up the pass. The secondary broke up 7 passes in all and held the Predators to only a 32% completion percentage. The Lions consolidated their running game on the next drive, Croasdaile carrying on every play to march the ball 48 yards in 7 plays and score on a 4 yard touchdown run. With 100 game veterans Tim Snape sidelined and David Allen on limited duties, there were big contributions on the offensive line from Paul Edwards, gaining his first start after coming back from knee surgery, freshman Will Lerpiniere and Andrew Matthews. They combined with Cameron Lawrence, Aaron Carbury and David Thode to pave the way for 225 yards rushing at 10.2 yards per rush and did not give up a sack on the night. The defensive front seven were also playing their part. Linemen Fady Aoun, Tau Saipaia, Chady Aoun, Piotr Milewski, Troy Carrick, Alex Denby and Tauese Tofa kept the pressure on the Predators’ backfield, while linebackers Joe Lim, Leigh Louey-Gung, Ian Triganza, Chris Noble and Andy West pursued hard to shut down the Predators’ running game. Chris Noble lead the tackle count for the game with 8 tackles, closely followed by John Tamanivalu with 7 and Lim, Louey-Gung and Triganza with 6 each. Louey-Gung broke up a 3rd down pass and Garman broke up a 4th down pass on the Predators' next possession to turn the ball over to the offence with little time in the half. The offence only needed one play. This time Cauhepe went deep and showed good concentration to hold a catch in traffic to go 50 yards for a touchdown and a halftime score of 41-0. And still the big plays kept coming after the half. On the first play from scrimmage - on his first carry for the season - Liam Erby sliced and spun his way for 46 yards and a touchdown. As Club President, Erby had been instrumental in getting the Lions into its new look game jersey. Ignoring some minor piping and striping, this was the first major change to the Sydney Uni jersey since the 1985 jersey had dropped a royal blue shoulder piece and gone with a full gold jersey. The new generation jerseys are a great update of the traditional strip and can be worn with pride by the current generation of Lions who have built on the team traditions and continue to take the club to new heights. It was fitting for Erby to take his first carry in the new strip all the way for a touchdown. The defence continued to shut down the Predators and the offence continued to roll into the second half. Dorney caught his second touchdown pass from Kelen before Andrew Frawley came in during the third quarter to relieve the Lions’ starting quarterback for the night. Despite less than ideal conditions for quarterbacking, Kelen finished with 9 completions from 11 passes with 189 yards, 5 touchdowns and no interceptions. Frawley would also excel, going 4 from 5 for 72 yards. Frawley hit Gifford and Cauhepe with passes on the next Lions’ drive, Cauhepe being taken down 1 yard short of the endzone on a 22 yard pass which gave him the yards for the game record. Cauhepe caught another 22 yard pass – again being held 1 yard short of the endzone – on the next drive to put the record beyond doubt and set up another touchdown plunge from Croasdaile. Croasdaile would finish with 4 rushing touchdowns and this last one finished the scoring at 67-0. There was a final act drama on the last Predators’ series. The kick-off was returned to the Lions’ 36 yard line and a penalty gave the Predators a first down on the 17. With time running out, the Predators ran for 13 yards for a 3rd and 1 and then ran for 4 more to put the ball on the 4 yard line with time for 3 plays. On 1st and goal, the Predators hit a slant pass play but exceptional work from cornerback Kevin Trinh and safety James Tamanivalu saw the receiver dropped at the 1 yard line. The Predators tried to run a speed option but Chris Noble took that play for a 5 yard loss. On 3rd and goal from the 6 and with time for only one last play, the Predators tried to thread another slant play through the needle but Leigh Louey-Gung was in position to break up the pass and preserve the shut out. The Lions now turn their focus to the Penrith City Outlaws, one of the few Gridiron NSW teams to rely on the running game in attack. With the Outlaws having played the UTS Gators to an exciting 42-40 result in Week 5, the Lions will clearly need to be ready for a ground assault next Saturday. |
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| Cubs Selected for Australia (15 October 2009) | |
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Three members of the 2009 Cubs squad have been selected to represent Australia in an U/19 international against American Samoa to be played in Veteran's Stadium, Pago Pago, on New Year's Day. Sam Darcy, Daniel Pearson and Hugh Tomkins were included in a 40 man Junior Outback squad which was announced by Gridiron Australia today. All three were members of the victorious New South Wales Wolverines which won the recent Junior Nationals held on the Gold Coast. Darcy, Pearson and Tomkins must have played well, as selection into the Junior Outback side was based largely on game performances at the tournament. Darcy has been selected at wide receiver and has the advantage of having his state quarterback in the side. Pearson was selected on the defensive line, a position he played with distinction at the Nationals. Tomkins was selected at linebacker, but is likely to be given extra kick return duties after returning a punt for a long range touchdown at the Nationals. The trio join 8 other players from the Gridiron NSW Colts Division to be selected into the Junior Outback team. The team leaves on 27 December and the game is to be played on New Year's Day as the curtain raiser to the "Aloha Bowl" being staged between American Samoa and Hawaii. We will watch for the result with interest. Sydney Uni American Football congratulates Sam, Daniel and Hugh on their achievement and wishes them the best of luck in representing their country. |
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| 300 Not Out (17 October 2009) | ||
 Kelen threw 16 of 26 for 113 yards and 2 TDs in guiding the Lions to a win in number 300 |
Sydney Uni became the first team in Gridiron NSW to play 300 senior competition games on Saturday when it defeated the Penrith City Outlaws 28-0 at the UWS Hockey Centre. The total of 300 games does not include the exhibition games of Arena football played in 2003, games in the NSWGFL seven-a-side competitions staged in 1993-5 or games played against visiting American teams, like the game against Central College, Iowa, played at Sydney University in 1995. The 300 games are purely those games played in the annual senior competition run by the governing body in the state. Head Official Darren Mitchell, on behalf of the executive of Gridiron NSW, presented Sydney Uni Head Coach Stephen Dunne with a plaque to commemorate the 300 game milestone prior to the kick-off. Here are some facts about the 300 games. It took Sydney Uni 25 years, 5 months and 18 days to get to 300 games after playing its first game on 29 April 1984. Andrew Ogborne, who quarterbacked the team in its first game, was on hand as an assistant |
 David Bourke (20) and Anthony Sinton (42) make a crucial pass break up on the goalline |
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coach to witness the 300th. Nationally, Sydney Uni was beaten to the mark only by the Eastside Razorbacks in South Australia, who played their 300th on 20 December 2008. In the 300 games, Sydney Uni faced a total of 28 different teams. 21 of those teams no longer exist. Sydney Uni has a winning record against every one of the 28 teams it has ever played. Details on Sydney Uni's record against each opponent can be found by following the "History" link on the Lions page. The all-time win-loss-draw record of the club over those 300 games is 243 wins, 52 losses and 5 draws for a winning percentage of 81.83%. By way of comparison, the NFL team with the best all-time winning percentage is the Miami Dolphins at 57.8%. The Division 1 College team with the best all-time winning percentage is Michigan at 73.98% and Yale has the best record in college football with a winning percentage of 76.31%. The winningest football program in the United |
 Cameron Lawrence (63) clears the way for Matt Croasdaile |
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 Tristan Cauhepe scored a 25 yard TD and a 2 point conversion to add to his season tally |
States belongs to Valdosta High School, Georgia, with a winning percentage of 80.8%. So, no matter how you look at it, Sydney Uni has accumulated a formidable winning record over its first 300 games. The 300 games average out at 11.76 games per season. Clearly, Sydney Uni has been helped in reaching 300 games so quickly by qualifying for so many playoffs. Out of the 300 games, 45 of them (15%) have been playoff or championship games. In qualifying playoff games (ie. non-championship games), Sydney Uni's record stands at 21 wins and 4 losses for a winning percentage of 84%. With all these qualifying wins, it is unsurprising that Sydney Uni has won through to play in 19 championship games in the 25 completed seasons to date. Obviously, the 300 games include the 10 Gridiron NSW championships won by Sydney Uni, the most by any club. But, thankfully, none of this meant anything to the Penrith City Outlaws on the field, who came into the game looking to play hard |
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and get the win. The Outlaws started with purpose, driving down to the Lions' 29 yard line on their first possession before being driven back and having their punt blocked by Leigh Louey-Gung to give up the ball on their own 29 yard line. The Lions drove in for an opening touchdown to Matt Croasdaile, but the PAT was blocked to leave the score at 6-0. The Outlaws were sent three and out on their next possession, with good pursuit from lineman Fady Aoun, linebackers Joe Lim and Leigh Louey-Gung and cornerback David Bourke combining to hold two completed passes and a run to less than 10 yards. Louey-Gung would lead all defenders with 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a blocked punt with Lim not far behind with 9 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Matt Croasdaile got the Lions moving with a 23 yard burst and then a completion from Dan Kelen to tight end James Gifford moved the varsity into scoring range. A holding penalty threatened to stall the drive, but on 4th and 14 from the 25 yard line, Kelen hit Tristan Cauhepe for a get-out-of- |
 David Allen, Aaron Carbury (60) and the O Line opened the way for Croasdaile to rush for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns |
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 The Outlaws found the going tough against the swarming Lions defence |
-jail touchdown. Croasdaile was stopped on a 2 point run attempt. Freshman linebacker Chris Noble looked to have sacked the Outlaws' quarterback for a big loss on the next series, but by ducking his head in the tackle, the quarterback managed to earn his team a 15 yard penalty instead. The defence stopped the Outlaws in the next set of downs to force a punt, which was downed by the Outlaws on the Lions' 3 yard line. The Lions drove from there all the way down to the Outlaws' 1 yard line, but failed to score. Croasdaile carried the ball most of the way, with Thomas Frazer chipping in with 2 catches for 22 yards, to see the Lions with a 2nd and Goal on the 1 yard line. But a holding penalty set the Lions back and the Outlaws defended three straight passing plays for the ball to be handed over on downs on the 9 yard line. The Outlaws then put together their best drive of the game. At one point, the Outlaws quarterback hit 5 straight passes, the best being a 21 yard throw down the |
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middle to a receiver who hung onto the ball despite close attention from safety Anthony Sinton over the top and linebacker Louey-Gung underneath. The drive came down to a 4th and 4 play from the Lions' 12 yard line. The Lions defensive front got good pressure on the Outlaws quarterback, who looked to go over the middle to his receiver again. This time Sinton and cornerback David Bourke broke up the pass to kill off the threat. The Lions had little time to get anything going before halftime to see the teams go to the break with the score at 12-0. The Lions came out with renewed purpose to start the second half. Gifford barrelled the kick-off return for 37 yards to the Outlaws' 33 yard line. Three rushes from Croasdaile moved the Lions to the 9 yard line, where Kelen found Gifford with a touch pass behind the coverage for a touchdown. Cauhepe scampered into the endzone on a bubble screen for a 2 point conversion to move the score out to 20-0. The Lions defence then sent the Outlaws three and out and the offence repeated the dose with an eight play, 42 yard scoring drive. Croasdaile carried the ball most of the way and into the endzone from 4 yards out. The score finished Croasdaile's work for the game at 23 carries for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns. Liam Erby carried the ball into the endzone through a yawning gap in the line for 2 more points and a score of 28-0. The Outlaws had another chance to score on their next possession. A good kick-off return placed the ball on the Lions' 27 yard line and a jet screen snuck through for 17 yards down to the 10. But on 2nd and Goal from the 12, cornerback Kevin Trinh made an athletic play to pick off an interception at the goal line for a touchback to deny the Outlaws.
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 James Gifford went airborne to bring down 6 catches to lead all receivers in the game |
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The Lions drove out from the 15 yard line on their next possession, with passes to Gifford and Cauhepe mixed in with runs from Erby, before a holding penalty caused the drive to stall at midfield. The defence forced three straight incompletions to end the next series and the Lions got the ball back. Andrew Frawley came in at quarterback, but was unable to get the offence moving on his first drive. It looked as though the Outlaws would get the ball back with good field position after a punt by Anthony Sinton to midfield, but the Outlaws returner muffed the catch and Chris Noble scooped up the ball and legged it into the endzone. Unfortunately for Noble, the returner had never taken possession of the ball, so the fumble could not be advanced, but it still resulted in a turnover to the Lions. The Lions then drove down to the Outlaws' 17 yard line but, again, were set back by a holding penalty and, on 4th down, Frawley was picked off by the Outlaws' safety at the goalline looking for Gifford on a crossing pattern. The Lions defence was not about to give up its shut-out and limited the Outlaws to one first down on the drive before forcing a punt. Jamie Owers and Christian Korbutt made tackles to limit the Outlaws to modest gains in the drive, rounding off a solid performance by the Lions secondary. Safeties John Tamanivalu, Anthony Sinton and Christian Korbutt and corners David Bourke, Suren Wickramasinghe, Kevin Trinh, Jeffrey Cheung and Jamie Owers had all made important contributions, and the unit had come up with two crucial plays at the goal line to keep the Outlaws out of the endzone. Sinton returned the Outlaws punt back to their 26 yard line to put the Lions straight on to the attack, but the clock ran out with the Lions poised to score on 1st and Goal. The win completed a memorable day for the club. But after pausing to reflect on its proud history, the Lions can now get back to the real task of playing good football - play by play, series by series, game by game - until that effort produces the next big milestone. |
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| Uni Dominates UTS (24 October 2009) | ||
 Croasdaile was the leading rusher in the game with 92 yards on 17 carries |
Sydney Uni continued its domination over UTS, with the Lions powering away to a 33-6 win at the St George Hockey Centre on Saturday. The win means that the Lions have now faced and defeated every opponent this season. The winds of change had blown through UTS in the off season. Coach Rocco Bosco had left his long-time home at the Bondi Raiders to join the Gators and, after further unrest at the Raiders, a number of players from the senior team and Bosco's talented Storm squad, including the Junior Outback quarterback, Jean Prill, had joined him in the migration to Broadway. This changing of the guard is now evident on the field, with Prill going the whole game at quarterback against the Lions and former starter Irrgang returning to duties in the defensive secondary. The first drive of the game showed that the UTS offence is still a work in progress. After fumbled exchanges on the first two plays, the Gators were lucky to still have the ball, albeit back on their heels at 3rd and 27. Prill completed his only pass for the day on a |
 The Gators' QB was put under pressure by Ian Triganza and the Lions defence |
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a receiver screen, but great Lions pursuit saw linemen Ian Triganza and Fady Aoun take that play for a loss too. A bad punt completed the misery with UTS giving up the ball only 19 yards out from their endzone - and 14 yards back from where they had started the drive! The Lions did not waste the opportunity. Liam Erby was given the start at running back and carried the ball 5 times on the drive to punch it in from 2 yards out. The offence needed to convert from 4th and 7 on the drive, and coolly drew the Gators offside for a 5 yard penalty before running for the first down on 4th and 2. The PAT was blocked for a 6-0 lead. The Gators bounced straight back. Dangerous return man Jamie Weeks took the kick-off up the Gators sideline and all the way to the Lions' 14 yard line before finally being forced out by Chris Noble and Jeffrey Cheung. The touchdown was only delayed, with the Gators running the ball into the endzone on first down to level the score. |
 The Lions rebounded in the second half to shut down the Gators' ground game |
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 Liam Erby forced his way through for 3 rushing touchdowns |
The PAT was wide to keep the teams deadlocked at 6-6. The Lions chose not to go for it on another 4th and 2 on their next drive - this time at mid-field - and punted the ball down to the Gators' 10 yard line. UTS drove back to mid-field before barely recovering another fumble - this time forced from their running back - on first down. On 2nd and 9, Triganza fought through the line to combine with Fady Aoun and linebacker Joe Lim to take the Gators' running back for a loss. The Gators' quarterback rolled and looked for his crossing routes on third down, but safety John Tamanivalu had taken away the deep option while Joe Lim and Rover Leigh Louey-Gung had jumped on the underneath receiver to leave nothing open. The Gators tried a long range field goal but it came up short, turning the ball over to the Lions' on the 33 yard line. The Lions ground game then started to assert itself. Erby churned out some tough yards on the ground and a 13 yard completion to tight end James Shine gave |
 Matt Garman and the Lions secondary provided run support without compromising coverage |
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the Lions 1st and Goal on the 9 yard line. Three more runs from Erby and the ball was in the endzone. Kelen failed to find tight end James Gifford on the conversion attempt to leave the Lions with a 12-6 lead. The Gators put the ball in the air on the next series, but without success. On first down, the UTS quarterback tried to hit a receiver on an inside seam route, but Lim had dropped into the zone and the Gators were lucky to escape with the pass only being broken up. On third down, the Gators quarterback was flushed from the pocket by outside linebacker Chris Noble and pursued hard to the sideline by lineman Chady Aoun. Trying for a big play, he launched a ball deep down the middle, only to see cornerback Suren Wickramasinghe come up from where he had been lying in wait to intercept the ball. The secondary of Wickramasinghe, Matt Garman, John Tamanivalu and David Bourke would play with great disciple all game and be rewarded with 3 interceptions. Matt Croasdaile was introduced into the |
 Daniel Kelen made two key fourth down throws for touchdowns |
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 Leigh Louey-Gung did not lose his head, making 8 tackles and claiming 2 take-aways |
game on the next series and immediately ripped off a 13 yard run. However, the drive stalled at half way and Anthony Sinton found the right weight on the punt to see the ball downed at the Gators' 4 yard line. The Gators made it back out to their 24 yard line before punting the ball away, the Lions getting the ball back on their own 25 yard line. With time running down in the half, the Lions mounted a threatening drive. Kelen completed a third down pass to receiver Kiernan Dorney to the Lions touchline, and Dorney took it up the sideline for 26 yards. Two strong runs from Croasdaile and the Lions were knocking on the door with 1st and Goal. But the Gators dug in, holding out two runs and a pass to bring up 4th and Goal on the 12. Kelen rolled right, but was picked off trying to hit an underneath crossing pattern - the defender paying for the privilege by being knocked over and into touch by Kelen. UTS only had time for two more plays, the half ending with the Lions ahead 12-6. |
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 Chris Noble was unlucky to only get a safety after stripping the ball ... |
The Lions had the ball to start the second half and immediately put their stamp on the game. Anthony Sinton fielded the kick-off at the 10 yard line and took it straight through the middle of the Gators' coverage team for 47 yards, finally being ridden down at the Gators' 23. On the first play from scrimmage, Erby bounced a counter play outside and down to the goal line before being bounced out at the 1 yard line. Erby ran in the extra yard for the touchdown, but was ruled to have been held up short on the conversion attempt to put the score out to 18-6. Andreas Lundin kicked the ensuing kick-off for a touchback and now the Lions defence got a chance to exert some pressure. On first down, Chris Noble brought the heat from the outside and sacked the Gators' quarterback for a 7 yard loss. From their own 8 yard line, the Gators tried running at Noble with the option, but he set up containment deep, claimed the quarterback in the endzone as he tried to find a way around him and then stripped the ball before putting the quarterback into the turf. Noble |
 ... and then winning the race to recover it in the endzone |
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even won the race to the loose ball in the endzone but was only credited with a safety for his fine play. Nevertheless, the safety moved the score out to 20-6 and gave the Lions an extra possession after the free kick. Croasdaile then entered the action for the first time in the second half and had an immediate impact. On his first three touches, he ran for 19, 8 and 12 yards to drive the Lions down to the Gators' 18 yard line. Tristan Cauhepe was well covered on a deep throw to the endzone and the Gators forced the Lions into 4th and 12 from the 20 yard line. The Lions went for it, and the offensive line of Aaron Carbury, David Thode, Tim Snape, Cameron Lawrence and David Allen bought time in the pocket for Kelen to fire a touchdown strike to Kiernan Dorney at the left pylon. Dorney turned ex-Lion Chris Snagg inside out on the play and showed him a clean pair of heels to the endzone. The Lions finally fluttered a PAT over the crossbar to kick away on the scoreboard to 27-6. UTS was now feeling scoreboard pressure, but it was the pressure from the Lions defence that was causing the real damage. The Gators were marched back for holding on first down and then back again when the Aoun brothers - Chady and Fady - claimed the running back for a loss. On 2nd and 18, the Gators quarterback was forced into a lofted throw by strong Lions pressure from Joe Lim and Chris Noble, and cornerback David Bourke stepped in front of the intended receiver and did well to hang on to the ball while looking into the sun for his third interception on the year. The Lions drove down to the goal line, Kelen hooking up with Dorney again for 22 yards, but a sack brought up 3rd and Goal on the 15. Croasdaile got 11 of those yards on a third down run, but was held 2 yards short of the endzone on 4th down for the Lions to hand the ball over on downs. |
 Dorney makes a touchdown grab |
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 Gifford holds a 4th down pass from Kelen for a touchdown |
The Lions defence looked to have forced yet another take-away after stripping the ball and recovering the fumble on the 7 yard line. However, an inadvertent whistle from an over-eager referee saved the Gators. But not for long. Six plays later and the Gators were still on their own 8 yard line after strong defence from the Lions' front seven. Now into the fourth quarter, Noble forced yet another fumble with great pursuit from the backside as Lim claimed the Gators running back for no gain. Linebacker Leigh Louey-Gung snapped up the bouncing ball and, this time, the officials swallowed their whistles for long enough for the fumble recovery to stand. Despite going backwards for the first three plays, the Lions scored on the following drive, with Kelen finding Gifford open in the endzone for a 19 yard touchdown. The PAT was no good, but the score sure was at Lions 33 - Gators 6. The Gators threatened on their next drive after their quarterback escaped the Lions' pass rush and scrambled for 39 yards up the UTS sideline. Louey-Gung made the saving |
 Wickramasinghe (28) breaks up this pass for Louey-Gung to intercept |
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tackle. But the Lions were hardly about to give up a score without a fight. Two run plays later and the Gators were a yard further back with 3rd and 11 on the 12 yard line. The Gators quarterback launched a pass for the corner, but both Wickramasinghe and Tamanivalu were in position to make a play at the ball, with Wickramasinghe breaking up the pass and Louey-Gung scavenging an interception to kill off the threat. The interception completed a good day for Louey-Gung, who topped the tackle count with Joe Lim with 8 tackles and came up with two take-aways. Other outstanding contributions were made by Chris Noble with 6 tackles, 2 sacks, a safety and a fumble caused, Fady Aoun with 6 tackles and 3 tackles for loss and Suren Wickramasinghe with his interception and an interception assist! The Lions played safety-first football with the ball and punted it away after failing to pick up a first down on their next drive. The Lions defence gave up one first down, but then stiffened to force another turnover - this time on downs as outside linebacker Greg Wernecke caught the Gators' quarterback from behind for a sack on 4th down. The Lions ran out the clock to ice the game. The win was the Lions' 40th in a row against all comers and their 22nd straight win against UTS. But, like with every game, it was really just a case of the better team on the day winning. After this game, the Lions know that it will take real intensity and desire to continue to be that better team this year. Click here for full game highlights |
 Wernecke ran down the Gators' quarterback for a sack to finish the game |
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| Homecoming Comeback (7 November 2009) | ||
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Sydney Uni staged a fourth quarter comeback to defeat the West Sydney Pirates in a memorable Homecoming Game at Mascot Oval on Saturday. The Lions constructed a 12 play, 70 yard drive in the final quarter to tie up the score at 26-26 on a Liam Erby 2 yard run. But his previous 2 yard carry may have been even more important. On 4th and 2 on the 4 yard line and with the game in the balance, Erby had been hit by Pirate defenders well short of the first down marker. In a crucial play, Erby carried the defenders with him to pick up the first down and maintain the drive. Marc Biedenkapp completed an eventful first game for the Lions by kicking the PAT to give the Lions the edge at 27-26. The Pirates had time for one last possession but the Lions would not concede even a first down. The Pirates turned the ball over on downs after being tackled short while trying to surprise the Lions with a run out of their punt formation. The Lions ran out the clock to secure the win. The Pirates had opened the game with four wide receivers, looking to spread the Lions |
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defence across the wider field at Mascot Oval. After a couple of short completions, the Lions seized the initiative with Leigh Louey-Gung stepping in front of a quick slant pattern to intercept the throw and give the Lions possession on their 36 yard line.
Liam Erby
started at running back for the Lions in the absence of Matt Croasdaile and
got the offence onto the front foot.
Erby handled the ball on 6 straight plays on the opening possession
to drive the Lions 54 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. It looked as though the game was following the Lions’ script on the next Pirates drive, with a Chris Noble sack forcing the Pirates to have to punt from their own 31 yard line. It looked even better for the Lions when Louey-Gung blocked the punt, but how quickly things can change in football! Veteran Pirates receiver Dean Toskoski swooped on the ball and fought off some unconvincing tacklers to run 59 yards to the endzone. The officials ruled that the ball had been recovered behind the line of |
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 Tau Saipaia (57) and Leigh Louey-Gung (37) hold the line |
scrimmage and the play stood as a touchdown. Toskoski added the extra point to tie the score at 7-7.
The
Pirates lifted off the back of their big play and shut down the Lions next
drive inside the first set of downs.
But an interception by outside linebacker Chris Noble on the Pirates
next possession stole the momentum back for the Lions.
Noble beat his receiver with a strong break on the ball for his first
career interception.
From
midfield, quarterback Daniel Kelen hit three straight passes to move the
Lions into scoring range and Liam Erby ran in a touchdown from 4 yards out
to take back the lead. However,
the PAT was blocked to leave the score at 13-7.
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first down. Then linemen Troy
Carrick and Tau Saipaia combined for a tackle for loss on first down and
Piotr Milewski sacked the quarterback on second down to bring up 3rd
and 27. No problem for the
Pirates, with Ward completing a 36 yard pass to Brad Golledge to pick up the
first down. Then, finally, on 3rd
and 20, Ward fired a strike to Dean Toskoski over the middle to see him
wrongfoot the secondary and score on a 31 yard reception.
With a successful PAT, the Pirates were in the lead at 14-13 and the
Lions were behind for the first time this season.
The Lions looked to hit back before the half. Tristan Cauhepe returned the kick-off 27 yards to midfield and the Lions drove towards the goal-line behind strong rushing from Liam Erby and a 13 yard pass to Marc Biedenkapp. However, on the 23 yard line, Kelen tried to find a secondary receiver behind the coverage off his back foot and threw an interception to end the threat. Instead, it was the Pirates who landed the |
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 Marc Biedenkapp showed fancy footwork and a clear pair of heels to run away for a 67 yard TD |
blow before half-time.
After another sack had been negated by a penalty, David
Ward found Brad Golledge in stride down the Pirates sideline for a 54 yard
touchdown. The Lions safety had
taken the wrong angle to the play from his deep zone and only managed to
scrape off his own cornerback from the coverage.
However, the PAT was blocked to leave the half-time scored at Pirates
20-Lions 13. With everything to play for, neither team took their first opportunity of the second half. The Lions went three and out on their first possession and the Pirates went the same way after lineman Craig Morgan caught the Pirates runningback for a 4 yard loss on first down. And things did not seem to improve for the Lions, with a holding call on the first play of their next possession. But how quickly things can change in football! On 1st and 20, Kelen threw a short pattern behind his intended receiver Marc Biedenkapp. But in a one-in-a-million play, the ball sat up off Biedenkapp's trailing heel and was brought in by the receiver for a |
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completion. Not satisfied with his fancy footwork, Biedenkapp then proceeded to sidestep the safety and outrun the pursuit for a 67 yard touchdown. Biedenkapp kicked the PAT to level the score at 20-20.
The Lions
defence sought to keep the momentum going.
On the first play of the Pirates next drive, cornerback David Bourke
picked off the team’s third interception for the day to give the Lions a
chance to drive for a go-ahead score.
However, the Pirates defence also lifted and sent the Lions offence
three and out on the ensuing drive.
And after the punt was returned back to mid-field, it was the Pirates
who were threatening again. But the Lions defence drove them back. Lim took the Pirates’ runningback for a loss on first down and linebacker Tom Weaver and lineman Fady Aoun sacked the quarterback on 2nd down to bring up 3rd and 20. This time there was no third down escape by the Pirates and the Lions had the ball back at midfield after the punt. |
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 Kiernan Dorney got the winning drive started with a 34 yard reception |
But the
Lions could not capitalise either.
On the second play of the drive, Kelen threw an interception with a
bootleg pass. The Pirates
defender made a nice play to undercut the pattern and get a foot down
inbounds at the sideline.
Finally, it was the Pirates who made a move.
After scraping together some tough rushing yards and scrounging a
couple of first downs, the Pirates faced their favourite 3rd down
on the Lions 29 yard line. The Lions
defensive backs swallowed the fake screen bait thrown out by the Pirates
hook, line and sinker for Dean Toskoski to saunter unopposed through the
secondary and underneath a David Ward pass to post his third touchdown of
the game. But the little things can be important. The Lions
blocked the conversion for the Pirates to be leading by just 6 points at
26-20.
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against – the Pirates. In that game, the Lions had come back to score on a Kiernan Dorney to Mac Shine pass on 4th and Goal to earn a 21-18 win. However, earlier in that 2006 season, the Pirates had held on in the fourth quarter to hand the Lions their last defeat 27-20. Clearly, the game could go either way. The comeback drive started on the Lions’ own 20 yard line after good Pirates kick-off coverage. Kelen got the Lions going on first down with a 34 yard completion to Kiernan Dorney to the sideline. The Lions drove on and, after a false start penalty, faced 4th and 4 on the Pirates’ 20 yard line. Kelen looked for a short pass to Mac Shine on a bootleg but, after the play had been strung out to the sideline, he tucked the ball and lowered his shoulder for 8 crucial yards on the ground. After an incomplete pass, Erby ran the ball down to the 4 yard line, where the Lions were again forced to convert on 4th and 2. Erby barely muscled his way for two yards |
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 Fady Aoun sealed the game with a sack and a tackle for loss on the last two defensive plays |
and the first down, and then carried the ball into the endzone on the next play to tie up the score. Biedenkapp sliced the uprights with the conversion to give the Lions the lead at 27-26.
The
Pirates got the ball back after the kick-off with
plenty of time on the clock. Lim stuffed the first down run attempt for no
gain. Then Milewski and
Noble brought down Ward for the Lions’ fifth sack of the game.
On 3rd and 13, Ward was sacked again by Fady Aoun, but the
Pirates were given another get-out-of-gaol-free card with a costly penalty.
However, Aoun made back to back big plays to hold the Pirates runningback
for a two yard loss on the 3rd and 3 run play.
After a false start, an offside and a time-out, the Pirates punter
tried to run for the first down but was tackled short to turn the ball over
on downs. Liam Erby then shouldered the load to run the ball down to the Pirates 3 yard line and run out the clock to win the game. |
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The win means that the Lions are all but assured of the top spot for the play-offs with two games left in the regular season. The Lions will meet the play-off bound UTS Gators after a bye week and then finish off the regular season with a game for the Foundation Shovel against the Bondi Raiders. |
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| Back to headlines | ||
| Lions Down Gators to Stay Unbeaten (21 November 2009) | ||
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Sydney Uni prevailed 38-35 over UTS at Forshaw Park on Saturday to remain unbeaten leading into the last week of regular season games. The win also extended the Lions' unbeaten run against the Gators to 23 wins over 15 years. But it was hardly a one-sided affair, with the Lions staging their second fourth quarter comeback in as many weeks to grab the lead and then shutout the Gators in the final period to earn the win. The Lions were all business to start the match. Sydney Uni had first use of the ball for only the second time this season and took full advantage, driving from their own 20 yard line for a touchdown. Matt Croasdaile ran for three third down conversions on the drive and punched the ball in from 4 yards out for the opening score. The Gators also struck on their first possession. A facemask penalty against the Lions gifted UTS a first down and, on 3rd and 9 on the 20 yard line, the Gators' quarterback found his receiver in the seam for an answering touchdown. With the PATs added, the score was locked at 7-7. |
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The Lions then mounted another 70 yard scoring drive, although this one had a few more twists. After a holding penalty had backed up the Lions to 2nd and 20, Quarterback Daniel Kelen found Kiernan Dorney for an 11 yard completion. However, after evading his immediate coverage, Dorney was hit from behind and fumbled the ball forward. Receiver Tristan Cauhepe got possession in a scramble on the ground but a UTS defender then pulled out the ball and headed upfield only to be tackled by Matt Croasdaile. The officials ruled possession to the Lions, but penalised Croasdaile for a late hit. The net result was that the Lions were back on 3rd and 18, but happy to still have the ball. They were even happier when Kelen hooked up with Marc Biedenkapp for a 31 yard play to pick up the first down. The officials then mistakenly robbed the Lions of a down after a UTS offside penalty and, when the error was discovered on 3rd (but really 2nd) down, refused to correct their error. The Lions took it all in their stride |
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 Pressure from Nick Baldwin on this throw led to ... |
and converted anyway, Kelen finding Liam Erby for 20 yards to the Gators' 27 yard line. From there, Kelen hooked up with Dorney on a chair pattern for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead. The Lions looked to have made the game's first defensive stop on the next possession when they sacked the UTS quarterback on 3rd down, only to be penalised for a horse-collar tackle. UTS pressed on to mid-field, where relentless pursuit from linebacker Nick Baldwin harried the Gators' quarterback to the sideline and forced a hurried throw into the Lions' secondary. Mitch Haney came up from deep coverage to snare the pass and claim his first interception as a Lion. The Lions were unable to move the ball on their next possession, Kelen missing on second and third down throws. But Marc Biedenkapp netted 43 yards on the ensuing punt to put the Gators back on their 25 yard line. Biedenkapp would have a good day with the boot, averaging 50 net yards on his three punts to help the Lions in the battle for |
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field position. And the Lions were straight back on the attack after only one play. The Gators hit a short pass to the narrow side on first down, but cornerback David Bourke came up to execute a perfect form tackle on the receiver and knock the ball free. Mitch Haney was on the spot to dive on the ball at the sideline and recover the fumble. Sydney Uni made UTS pay for the error. Croasdaile carried the ball for 17 yards on two carries and Tristan Cauhepe caught a tough 17 yard catch to place the ball on the 5 yard line. Croasdaile took it in from there, but the PAT was pushed wide to see the Lions leading by 20-7. The Gators looked to strike back on their next possession and the Lions seemed keen to give them a hand. A roughing the passer call on 2nd and long breathed new life into the drive and the Gators were only too happy to take the free yards and then some more, gaining ground with their |
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 Tristan Cauhepe held this 17 yard pass to set up the Lions' third TD |
speed option and completing a pass to the 9 yard line to set up 1st and Goal. From there, the Lions' defence stiffened. Two run plays brought up 3rd and Goal on the 3. The Gators tried a third run play, but Leigh Louey-Gung and Nick Baldwin were waiting to claim the ball-carrier for a 3 yard loss. On 4th and Goal from the 6 yard line, UTS brought on its field goal unit for the chip shot. But veteran Fady Aoun stormed the line and blocked the kick, which landed in Joe Lim's arms to be returned out to the 20 yard line. It looked as though the Lions had repelled the Gators, but they soon had more work to do after a Kelen pass was tipped for an interception to put UTS back on the attack. After a first down run and two incompletions, the Gators were faced with 4th and 5 on the Lions' 32 yard line. With time running out in the half, the Gators went for it but seemed sure to turn the ball over with their quarterback in the grasp of Lions defenders in the backfield. But in a great individual effort, the QB broke free from the pass rush and scrambled over the sideline |
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for a first down. The Gators then got the benefit of a pass interference call and fired in a touchdown pass from the 11 yard line to bring the score back to 20-14. With less than a minute on the clock before halftime, there did not seem to be enough time for the Lions to mount any serious scoring threat. However, consecutive long completions to Dorney and Biedenkapp put the Lions on the 9 yard line with 11 seconds left. Kelen put nice touch on a corner fade pattern but the ball did not stick for the receiver. Kelen was on the money with a pass to the inside curl but it slid on through the hands. With two ticks on the clock, Kelen tried to hit Biedenkapp on a slant, but the UTS defender took away the inside and deflected the pass for an incompletion. Both teams had now driven inside the 10 yard line but come away with nothing. The halftime score stood at 20-14. The defensive penalty woes continued for the Lions after the break. A facemask penalty tacked onto the end of a run got the Gators on the move to start the second half. |
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 David Hall (34) makes yet another special teams tackle |
The UTS quarterback then fired a couple of quick slants to his wide receiver and, after a late hit penalty gave the Gators 1st and Goal on the 4, he hit his receiver again on the slant for a touchdown. The PAT was good to see the Gators take the lead for the first time at 21-20. The Lions drove their next possession to mid-field but, on 4th and 3, Coach Dunne decided to go for the first down only to see Croasdaile taken for a loss on the play and the Lions hand the ball over on downs. UTS took full advantage of the short field. On 3rd and 10, a Gators' receiver burned the Lions' coverage for a 31 yard touchdown. The score was now out to 28-20 and the Lions needed to respond or soon get left behind. The response was quick and deadly. Tristan Cauhepe got things moving with a shifty 44 yard kick-off return back to the Gators' 37 yard line. Then, on the first play of the drive, Kelen threw deep down the |
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sideline for Biedenkapp, who brought in the pass, cut inside the two covering defenders and strolled into the endzone for a 37 yard touchdown. Behind by 2, the Lions opted for the two point conversion - Kelen completing the pass to Dorney in the flats to tie up the score at 28 all. But the Gators took their first opportunity to put the Lions behind again. Biedenkapp was forced into making the tackle on the kick-off return, with the Gators starting their next drive from half-way. UTS converted with a 3rd and 10 pass play and then the option pitch man left a string of Lions defenders grasping at air as he cut back from 23 yards out to score underneath the posts. With the PAT successful, the Gators had stretched out to a 35-28 lead. The game was only into the third quarter, so there was still plenty of time for the Lions to come back. But an interception thrown by Kelen on the next drive was returned to the Lions' 32, giving the Gators the chance to extend the lead. The pressure was now |
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 Marc Biedenkapp (80) leaves defenders sprawling on his way to a 37 yard TD |
squarely on the Lions defence to get a stop. The Lions played tough against the run on the first two downs and forced an incompletion on the third. Linebacker Joe Lim and lineman Fady Aoun combined for the first running stop and safety Leigh Louey-Gung made the second. These players would feature heavily all game, with Lim leading the tackle count with 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and the field goal block recovery, Aoun making 6 tackles and blocking a field goal attempt and Louey-Gung getting in on 10 tackles with 4 tackles for loss and a pass break up. The Gators tried for a field goal from the 27 yard line, but the kick was pushed wide to the left. Again, the Lions offence could not gain traction and was forced to punt without picking up a first down. From his own 31 yard line, Biedenkapp hit a soaring punt which was not fielded by the UTS returner and downed by Matt Garman at the 2 yard line. Now the Lions' defence started to exert |
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some pressure. UTS ran six plays but ended up where they had started from - back on the 2 yard line. Matt Garman and Joe Lim took a receiver screen for a loss on one play, linebacker Chris Noble took the quarterback for a sack on another and Louey-Gung tackled the option pitch man for a loss on a third. UTS was forced to punt the ball away on 4th and 20 and the Lions had the ball at midfield to start their next drive. It took two plays to get down close. Croasdaile broke for 15 yards on first down and then Dorney lost his man for a 23 yard completion to the 5 yard line. The offensive line of Cameron Lawrence, David Thode, Tim Snape, Aaron Carbury, David Allen, Paul Edwards and tight end James Gifford buckled up and got to work. On 3rd and Goal from the 1, they cleared a lane for Croasdaile into the endzone for his third touchdown in the match. After the touchdown, the Lions were behind by 1 point. The kicking team came on and |
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 Nick Baldwin (44) claims the quarterback for a crucial sack to push UTS out of field goal range |
the ball sailed wide, but UTS were offside at the snap putting the conversion attempt at half distance to the goal line. Coach Dunne decided that the odds now favoured going for the lead and called the offence back onto the field. Croasdaile spun out of a hit at the line and crashed into the endzone to put the Lions ahead 36-35. Now well into the fourth quarter, UTS got the ball back at midfield with everything on the line. Louey-Gung took the first down run play for a 6 yard loss, but UTS responded with a 29 yard pass down to the Lions' 26. On 3rd and 8, the Lions got pressure with a strong rush and Nick Baldwin rounded up the quarterback for a sack and a 14 yard loss - pushing the Gators out to the 42 yard line. While UTS tried for the field goal, it was always landing short and the ball was handed over to the Lions on downs. On first down, Croasdaile broke free for his longest run of the day - 32 yards down to the Gators' 16 yard line. Croasdaile would finish with 156 yards on 31 carries in a |
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powerhouse display. The Lions continued to bang the ball down close but, on 4th and 3 on the 9 yard line, they faced another key decision. Only ahead by one point, they went for the first down but were ruled to have been stopped one yard short of the marker. But the Lions' defence turned that negative into a positive. On first down, they got good pressure on the backfield and Nick Baldwin just beat Chris Noble to the quarterback in the endzone to take him down for a safety and push the score out to 38-35 Time was now becoming a real problem for UTS as Sydney Uni tried to soak up the clock. David Hall dropped the free kick following the safety, but had the presence to dive on the ball after a couple of awkward bounces at his feet. Liam Erby gave Croasdaile a spell at running back, but an assisting the runner penalty pushed the Lions back to 3rd and 18. The Lions seemed to have earned a first down after some blatant pass interference from a UTS |
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 Fady Aoun (79) celebrates Nick Baldwin's safety |
defensive back, but the officials ruled that the ball was uncatchable and only penalised the Gators 10 yards for a push in the back. On third down, UTS ensured they would get the ball back at least one more time by sacking Kelen on his 15 yard line. Biedenkapp completed his punting duties for the day by netting 50 yards on the punt to see the Gators take over possession on their own 25 yard line. UTS started the drive positively. The first two running plays picked up 17 yards, but a block in the back on a receiver screen set them back to 2nd and 9. A short run play and they were facing 3rd and 6. UTS went back to the receiver screen but missed it, the ball sailing through the hands of the intended receiver. On 4th and 6, the Gators' quarterback tried to hit a skinny post down the seam but only managed to pick out Lions safety Anthony Sinton, who gratefully held the interception to seal the victory. Kelen completed the formalities by kneeling the ball twice to run out the clock. |
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The win secured the top seed for the Lions in the play-offs and means they will face the Sutherland Seahawks in two weeks' time for the second straight year for a place in the Waratah Bowl. The loss dropped the Gators' record to 6-3 and into a play-off against the West Sydney Pirates. But before the play-offs arrive, the Lions face the important task of finishing the regular season undefeated and retaining the Foundation Shovel in their final regular season game against the Bondi Raiders. The game will be played at Forshaw Park with the kick-off at 4pm.
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Anthony Sinton sealed the win with an interception on fourth down |
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| Lions Advance Undefeated (28 November 2009) | ||
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Sydney Uni closed out an undefeated regular season with a 55-12 victory over the Bondi Raiders at Forshaw Park on Saturday. Uni has now compiled 12 undefeated regular seasons, with five in the last six years. The victory also secured the Foundation Shovel for another year, with the Lions stretching their winning streak over Bondi to 18 games over 10 years. The Raiders started with the ball but soon gave it up. Faced with 4th and 1 at mid-field on their first possession, the Raiders' quarterback tried to sneak for the first down but, instead, was sacked for a loss by Piotr Milewski and Chady Aoun to hand the ball over on downs. With the play-off match-ups already set for the following week, the game presented an opportunity for Coach Dunne to play the full roster. David Hall was rewarded for his effort at training by being given the start at running back and did not disappoint. Hall galloped for 19 yards on his first touch and finished with a |
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game high 141 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns on 19 carries. The Lions were soon knocking on the door, but a holding penalty backed them up to 4th and 15 on the Raiders' 17 yard line. Daniel Kelen looked to tight end James Gifford in the endzone and Gifford brought in a leaping, twisting, contested catch for a touchdown. The PAT was wide to leave the score at 6-0. The Lions were soon back on offence. On the first play of the next Bondi drive, Leigh Louey-Gung tipped and held an overthrown pass for an interception to put the Lions straight back on the attack. The pick was Louey-Gung's fifth on the season to lead the Lions in interceptions. David Hall was determined to make the most of his time as the starter. He had carries of 18 yards and 22 yards on the next drive to get down close, and then ran the ball in from 2 yards out for a touchdown. Kelen hit Tristan Cauhepe on a slant pass |
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 There was no rainbow for the Raiders, despite an early sunshower |
for two points on the conversion to move the score out to 14-0. The game was fast getting away from the Raiders. Marc Biedenkapp forced Bondi to go the long field on their next drive by kicking the ball for a touchback, but the Raiders picked up a couple of first downs on the ground to move into Lions' territory. A receiver screen picked up another first down to put the ball on the Lions' 30, but all the good work was undone when Anthony Sinton pounced on a softly thrown ball over the middle to intercept the pass and return it back into the Raiders' half. The Raiders' quarterback was forced into the error by pressure off the edge from outside linebacker Nick Baldwin, the intercept giving a third straight turnover to the Lions. The offence was not about to let up. Kelen got the drive moving with a completion to Gifford, but Hall was forced to go up and over the defence to get a first down on an acrobatic 3rd and 9 run play. From the 14 yard line, the Raiders were called for pass interference on Marc Biedenkapp just short |
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of the endzone and, on the next play, Kelen and Cauhepe combined for their tenth touchdown of the season and a 21-0 lead. The pressure was now clearly too much for the Raiders. They had to score to have any chance of staying in the game, but turned the ball over inside their first set of downs. Facing 3rd and 10 at midfield, the Raiders' quarterback was again under pressure from the Lions' rush and threw the ball into the flats for one of his receivers flooding the zone. But Mitch Haney had set up camp in the zone much earlier and had the best position to accept the pass for yet another turnover to the Lions. Sydney Uni took only two plays to capitalise. On first down, Kelen threw to Kiernan Dorney for 18 yards down to the 29 yard line. From there, David Hall did the rest - slicing through the line behind a block from pulling guard, David Thode, to stretch away from the pursuit before cutting back inside the last defender to score his second rushing touchdown. Biedenkapp added |
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 Ian Triganza takes the Raiders' running back for a loss |
the PAT to put the score out to 28-0. There was no respite for the Raiders on their next possession either. The three plays on the drive each went for a loss. Defensive end Ian Triganza kept great containment on the first play to drive the ball-carrier inside and into the waiting arms of Joe Lim and Greg Wernecke. These two, with the help of disciplined team football from the defensive line of Triganza, Troy Carrick, Tau Saipaia, Chady Aoun and Piotr Milewski, lead the tackle count for the game, with Lim making 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and a sack and Wernecke getting in on 9 tackles and a tackle for loss. Triganza got a piece of the action on the second play of the drive, taking the running back for a 2 yard loss. The Raiders' quarterback muffed the shotgun snap on third down and, by the time he regathered the ball, it was all too late - Nick Baldwin had him in his sights and pulled the trigger for an 11 yard sack. But at least the Raiders got off a punt on this drive, the Lions taking over possession |
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on their own 11 with little time on the clock before half-time. For a while it looked as though the Lions would finish the half with a score on every possession. Kelen threw to Mac Shine for 16 yards and then, on 3rd and 9, completed a 29 yard pass to tight end Andreas Lundin down to the Raiders' 26 yard line. On the next play, wide receiver Jimmy Northwood ran a perfect fly route and showed great speed and concentration to catch up to a well-thrown ball and bring in a touchdown on his first career catch. Or so he thought. Unfortunately, a holding call put paid to the heartfelt celebration. Northwood would have joined 20 Year Anniversary Team member Gordon Ogborne as the only other Lion to have caught a touchdown with his first career reception. Ogborne took a short pass from his brother 60 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against the Fairfield Argonauts in 1989 and then, later in the same game, held an 11 yard pass for a touchdown on his second career catch for good measure. |
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 The triple threat of Joe Lim (56), Nick Baldwin (44) and Greg Wernecke (49) put pressure on the Raiders' backfield all day |
With time running out, the Lions were unable to get back into the endzone, the half ending with the Lions in command at 28-0. The Lions started the second half with a new offensive backfield. Kiernan Dorney came in for Kelen at quarterback and Matt Croasdaile took over at running back, immediately firing off a couple of bustling runs for first downs. But, scrambling to the sideline on 3rd and 11, Dorney was picked off by a linebacker lurking in an intermediate zone while looking for Mac Shine on a comeback pattern. The interception gave the Raiders the ball in good position at mid-field, but they could not hold onto it. Lim brought down the Bondi quarterback for a sack on second down, forcing the Raiders into having to go for it on 4th and 6. Throwing while in the grasp of Nick Baldwin, the Bondi quarterback only managed to put up a jump ball into the flats. Attacking the ball at its highest point, Mitch Haney brought down his second interception in a crowd to end |
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the drive. On first down of the next series, Dorney hit Tristan Cauhepe on a slant and Cauhepe hit the brakes with a sharp change of direction to lose his immediate coverage and scamper 36 yards down to the 12. Two carries from Croasdaile put the ball in the endzone and moved the score out to 35-0. The touchdown also brought up 138 points for Croasdaile in the 2009 regular season - more points than any Lion has ever scored in a regular season. After the officials had required three kick-offs to re-start the action, the Raiders finally came up with a big play when their receiver was ruled to have held a catch as he fell to the ground on a long ball to the Lions' 15 yard line. The Raider quarterback escaped the rush on 2nd and 10 to scramble down to the 3 yard line and, on 3rd and Goal from the 3, a mighty effort from the Raiders' halfback saw him awarded a touchdown after reaching over his tacklers with the ball at the corner pylon. The Lions broke up the |
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 Andrew Matthews (59) checks his blocking assignment on a PAT |
2 point conversion out of the swinging gate to leave the score at 35-6. Cauhepe got the Lions straight back on the attack with a 39 yard kick-off return to the Raiders' 33 yard line. Dorney directed a controlled drive, mixing runs and passes to David Hall down to the goal-line. At the 3 yard line, Dorney fired a touchdown strike to Northwood on a slant - meaning that Northwood really had now caught a touchdown on his first career catch (and, in a way, had matched Gordon Ogborne with touchdowns on his first two career receptions!) but, somehow, it was not quite the same. The PAT was wide to leave the score at 41-6. It did not stay there for long. On the Raiders' first play from scrimmage on the next drive, they caught the Lions' secondary napping with a halfback option play for a 45 yard touchdown. The Lions blocked the PAT to make the score 41-6. Andrew Frawley took over at quarterback |
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on the next series and became the third Lions quarterback to throw for a touchdown in the game. Frawley was given good starting field position following a 28 yard kick-off return by Paul Edwards, a member of the blocking wedge. Frawley also got good yards on the ground on the first career carries by James Haslam at running back. Haslam would finish with a handy 38 yards on 4 carries. But it was Frawley who found the endzone, hitting Andreas Lundin on a crossing pattern from 21 yards out for a touchdown. With the extra point, the score was out to 48-12. The final score was put up by the defence. The Lions shut down the Raiders on their next possession, forcing a turnover on downs after Greg Wernecke had anticipated the middle screen on 4th down but grassed the potential interception. After the Lions punted away their next possession, the Raiders were back on their own 14 yard line. From there a familiar play unfolded. On first down, the Raiders quarterback looked for a short completion |
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 Mitch Haney (24) takes his third interception back for a touchdown |
into the flats only to find Lions' safety Mitch Haney on patrol. Haney took the interception - equalling the Lions' record with his third in the match - but this time picked up key blocks from Joe Lim, Troy Carrick and Andy West to take the ball back all the way for a pick six. The score was a just reward for Haney who, like receiver Jimmy Northwood, had attended trainings and film sessions assiduously throughout the season despite not being able to run for much of the year due to stress fractures in his feet. The touchdown pushed the final score out to 55-12. With the regular season now behind them, the Lions can look forward to their play-off against the Sutherland Seahawks next Saturday at Forshaw Park, kick-off at 7pm. The Lions' strong season has only earned them the right to put it all on the line next week for a shot at the title. They can hardly wait. |
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| Tenth Straight Bowl (5 December 2009) | ||
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Sydney Uni advanced to its tenth straight Waratah Bowl with a 38-20 win over the Sutherland Seahawks at Forshaw Park on Saturday. The win means that Sydney Uni has qualified for 20 championship games in the 26 year history of gridiron in NSW. But it was the Seahawks who struck first - and quickly - taking the opening kick-off back all the way for a touchdown to start the game. The Sutherland return formation prompted a number of calls from the Lions sideline to "watch out for the reverse", but they were all to no avail as dangerous returner Jordan Cook took a reverse hand-off and peeled back behind a well designed blocking scheme to slice through for a 70 yard return. The Seahawks failed with a two point pass attempt but had just the start they wanted with a 6-0 lead. And they almost recovered the ball on the next kick-off. A high, short kick-off dropped just behind the second row of the Lions return team and eluded the outstretched arms of Leigh Louey-Gung retreating for the catch. The ball was loose on the ground when the |
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Seahawks' coverage team arrived on the scene but the fourth Lions' player into the pile-up, Ian Triganza, got down and dirty and secured the ball. Marc Biedenkapp took Dan Kelen's first pass 36 yards to get the Lions on the move, but the drive peetered out with an incompletion on 4th and 9 at the Seahawks' 21 yard line. However, the Lions were soon back on the attack after cornerback David Bourke picked off a deep ball at the half-way line and returned the interception to the Seahawks' 15. But still the Lions could not get on the scoreboard. After Matt Croasdaile had brought up 1st and goal on the 3 yard line with an 11 yard run, the Seahawks held out on two run plays and then intercepted Dan Kelen in the endzone to kill off the scoring threat. While the Lions' offence was misfiring, the |
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 Matt Croasdaile rushed for 141 yards and 4 touchdowns with help up front from linemen like Aaron Carbury (60) |
Lions defence was fired up and drove the Seahawks backwards after the re-start from the 20 yard line. Joe Lim was in on two tackles for loss on the series, which saw the Seahawks forced back to 4th and 17 on their own 13. Lim topped the tackle count in the game with 8 tackles and, in the process, took his season total to 88 tackles and took the club record for tackles in a season off Craig Morgan. After the Seahawks' punter had shanked the kick off the side of his boot, the defence had put the Lions into scoring range again, getting the ball back on the Seahawks' 26 yard line. This time the Lions offence took advantage. Matt Croasdaile made all of the 26 yards on the ground, including converting a 4th and 3 from the 5 yard line, and carried the ball in for a touchdown from 1 yard out. Biedenkapp added the extra point to give the Lions the lead at 7-6. After another good kick-off return over half-way, the Seahawks were pressing for more points. Ian Triganza seemed to have ended the drive with a sack to put the Seahawks into 4th and 7, but a penalty |
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against the Lions on the punt extended the drive. The Seahawks took some shots into the endzone, but Anthony Sinton and David Bourke were in position to bat the passes down. On 4th and 17 from the Lions' 19, the Seahawks tried a reverse, but Ian Triganza disrupted the hand-off and the ball was fumbled for a loss of 18 yards. The Lions took over on downs and raced away for a score in three plays. Kelen found Liam Erby out of the backfield for 16 yards on the first and then scrambled for 17 yards on the second. The third play was a 20 yard run for a touchdown by Matt Croasdaile on which he cut hard to the back side of the play to burst through the line and into the clear. The Lions were now ahead 14-6. The Lions defence forced the Seahawks to punt without gaining a first down on the next possession after linebacker Greg Wernecke put the Seahawks behind in the count with a sack on first down. But while the Lions defence was making it |
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 Dan Kelen ran for a career high 55 yards on 4 carries |
hard for the opposition, the Lions offence was making it hard for itself, with 30 yards worth of penalties on one play to kill off the next drive. Still, the defence got the ball right back, with Anthony Sinton picking off a long ball and returning the interception into the Seahawks' half. Kelen completed a short pass to Kiernan Dorney, but Dorney lost his man and turned it into a long play down to the 9 yard line. Croasdaile carried the ball in from there and the Lions had moved out to 21-6. But the Seahawks were soon back in it, with three completions in a four play drive culminating in a touchdown over the middle and a two point conversion at the sideline to bring the score back to 21-14 at halftime. The Lions drove their first possession of the second half down to the Seahawks' goalline but had to settle for a field goal after Croasdaile was repelled three times from close range. |
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T he Seahawks scraped together a drive to the Lions' 13 and tried for the endzone with 3rd and 4th down passes but, again, the Lions secondary defused the threat. David Bourke would finish with an interception and 3 pass break ups in a solid performance.The Lions then raced away in four plays covering 68 yards for a touchdown and a lead of 31-14. Croasdaile broke away from 18 yards out for the score. And when Kelen found Biedenkapp in the endzone for a 22 yard touchdown on the next possession, the Lions had put the game away with a lead of 38-14. Still, there was a sting in the tail, with Jordan Cook doing it all on his own for another long kick-off return for a touchdown to bring the score back to 38-20 with little time left. David Hall fielded the onside kick and then ran out the clock to secure the victory. The Lions now play in the Waratah Bowl next Saturday looking for seventh heaven |
with help from Mitch Haney (24), Fady Aoun (79) and Joe Lim (56) |
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| Seventh Heaven (12 December 2009) | ||
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200 receiving yards |
The Sydney University Lions won their seventh straight Waratah Bowl with a 34-26 win over the UTS Gators at Forshaw Park on Saturday. The win capped an undefeated season for the Lions, who rallied with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to come back from a 26-21 deficit and claim the title. The Lions got off to a fast start. On the second play from scrimmage, quarterback Dan Kelen found receiver Kiernan Dorney open behind the UTS coverage. Dorney accelerated away from his defender and only a diving ankle-tap stopped him from going all the way. The 59 yard pass play put the Lions on the Gators' 15 and running back Matt Croasdaile took over from there, handling the ball on four straight plays to crash over for a 1 yard touchdown. The Gators looked to strike back on their first possession and opened with 4 straight pass plays to get the chains moving. UTS drove confidently down the field to bring up 1st and goal on the 2 yard line, but then trouble struck. Run plays on first and second down were taken for losses and a third down pass was |
ran for 100 yards and 4 touchdowns |
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well defended by cornerback David Bourke. After a penalty had pushed UTS back to the 19 yard line, the early opportunity to strike back was wasted when the UTS kicker pushed a 36 yard field goal attempt wide. However, UTS soon had the ball back after the Lions offence was unable to pick up a first down and forced to punt the ball away. Regaining the ball at mid-field, the Gators made the most of their second chance, driving in for an answering touchdown. Quarterback Jean Prill scrambled for 15 yards to get the Gators down close and fullback Hamish Holland finished the job from 5 yards out. The conversion was pushed wide to keep the Lions in the lead at 7-6. A holding penalty on 3rd down killed off the Lions' next possession and they punted the ball as the teams changed ends to start the second half. The Lions would be flagged for 6 holding penalties in the game. With extra officials drafted into the crew for the |
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 Matt Croasdaile touches down for his second score |
Waratah Bowl, is it any wonder there were more penalties - 26 in all - at more than twice the season average? A well directed punt by Lions punter Marc Biedenkapp pinned the Gators back on their own 12 yard line . After five plays the Gators had moved only two yards and the Lions got the ball back at half-way after the punt.This time the Lions were able to overcome a first down holding call and move the chains. On 3rd and 16, Dan Kelen hooked up with Tristan Cauhepe on a 32 yard pass play to move the Lions to the 18 yard line. Croasdaile covered the distance to the goalline in three carries to score on a 6 yard run off right tackle. Biedenkapp added the extra point to see the Lions move out to a 14-6 lead. The Gators got straight back into scoring range. A broken coverage on the second play of the next drive saw their dangerous receiver Jamie Weeks running unchecked |
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through the Lions secondary. Weeks went to ground while making a 30 yard catch to set up the Gators on the 12. The Lions' defence played tough against the run on the next two downs. On 3rd and 8, the Gators ran the ball again but their fullback fumbled not once, but twice on the play. Holland first fumbled the hand-off, but a lucky bounce brought the ball back up into his arms, and then, after he had been wrapped up for a loss, he appeared to try a desperation toss back to his quarterback. The ball ended up on the ground and Chady Aoun made the recovery for the Lions. However, the officials gifted the ball back to UTS, ruling there had been an inadvertent whistle before the recovery. UTS made the most of the charmed call. On 4th and 16, Prill found Weeks in the endzone on a corner pattern for a touchdown. However the UTS extra point kick was again no good to keep the Lions in the lead at 14-12. Tristan Cauhepe was having a busy day |
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 Greg Wernecke sacks the UTS quarterback for a big loss |
returning kick-offs, and he took the next one back 40 yards to halfway. Cauhepe would finish with 168 yards on 5 kick-off returns and play an important role in winning the battle for field position. The next Lions drive was stopped at midfield after they failed to convert on
4th and 1. Croasdaile was met in the hole and brought down short of
the first down. |
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Weeks deep down the seam but Anthony Sinton swooped from his free safety position to intercept the pass. Indeed, the first half ended in a succession of turnovers. A couple of plays later, Dan Kelen had his arm hit while passing and fumbled the ball. With time running out, Prill tried a heave into the endzone but was picked off by David Bourke. The half ended with the Lions ahead 14-12. The Gators had the ball to start the second half but it was the Lions who struck first. On the second play of the half, UTS tried their triple option but the pitch man, Weeks, was caught for a loss. As Weeks twisted in the tackle, linebacker Joe Lim stripped the ball and Wernecke dived on the fumble after pursuing all the way around from the backside. Wernecke was having a banner day and would end the game with two fumble recoveries and cause a third. This time the Lions shared the load on the ground. Liam Erby caught UTS off-guard with two end-around carries for good yards |
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 The Lions secondary was tested, with Eric Reutemann breaking up this pass at full stretch |
and Croasdaile did the rest, powering ahead for 9 yards to convert on 4th and 1 at the 12 and then scoring his third rushing touchdown from 3 yards out. With the extra point, the Lions moved ahead to 21-12. The Lions looked to have shut UTS down on its next drive. Cornerback Eric Reutemann broke up a deep pass attempt to bring up 3rd and 9 at midfield. The Gators went with a wide speed option but the timing was off and Leigh Louey-Gung and Chady Aoun took the play for a 4 yard loss. However, the officials made the unusual call of defensive holding on an interior lineman well away from the action and extended yet another UTS drive. The Gators knew they had to take advantage of these favourable calls. Prill made a key third down completion to receiver Scott Krause and then scrambled for 11 yards to get the Gators down close. Krause then made a great diving grab at the pylon to score on a 10 yard touchdown pass. The UTS kicker finally put one through the uprights to bring the score |
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back to 21-19. The Lions took over at mid-field after another long Cauhepe kick-off return and got down to the business of driving the ball. The offensive line of David Allen, Aaron Carbury, Tim Snape, David Thode and Cameron Lawrence drove the Lions forward, blocking for Croasdaile and Erby and giving time to Kelen to find Dorney for a short completion. However, at the 28 yard line, the Lions were slapped with two consecutive holding calls to set them back to 2nd and 23. Kelen got 11 yards back with a completion to tight end James Gifford but then missed with a shot to the endzone on 3rd down to end the drive. Biedenkapp also just missed with his coffin corner punt, UTS taking over on their 20 after the touchback. UTS then got its own drive going. The Gators mixed short completions to their tight end with scrambles from their quarterback into a dangerous combination, driving downfield as the game moved into |
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 David Bourke (20), Nick Baldwin (44) and Leigh Louey-Gung (37) swarm to hold the UTS receiver short of a first down |
the final quarter. On 2nd and 10 at the Lions' 29 yard line, defensive end Piotr Milewski sacked Prill, spinning back to the inside as the UTS quarterback tried to escape out the front of the pocket. After the Lions' secondary had bottled up Krause after a short completion, the stage was set with a 4th and 9 on the 28. Down by 2 points, the Gators elected against taking the field goal attempt and went for broke. Prill had time in the pocket to launch a deep ball. Two UTS receivers ran over the top of the Lions' free safety and Weeks was able to shield the cornerback from the ball to come down in the endzone with the go-ahead touchdown. The Gators were now ahead 26-21 and in the driving seat to take the title. Cauhepe took the ensuing kick-off back 43 yards to put the Lions in good position at half-way. They were in even better position after Kelen lofted a pass down the sideline and Dorney leapt high to bring down a 31 yard reception at the 15. But UTS were not going down without a fight. The Gators |
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stopped two run plays for little gain and did enough in coverage to disrupt an attempted slant to Cauhepe to bring up 4th and 8 on the 13. A play-calling miscommunication meant that the end around was run by mistake and, despite an Erby hurdle, UTS held the play short of the first down to get the ball back on their 10 yard line. The Lions defence needed to make a play. On first down, Prill was caught in a collapsing pocket by defensive end Ian Triganza for a sack. Back on their 8 yard line, UTS went with a speed option but the pitch bounced out of the hands of the running back and went to ground. Greg Wernecke was first to react and first to the ball. No one, not even the referee, had an easy time getting the ball off Wernecke after the recovery. The Lions made no mistake in punching the ball in. Croasdaile scored untouched off left tackle after Liam Erby and Cameron Lawrence had sealed off the edge. Ahead by just one point, the Lions went for a 2 point conversion to attempt to stretch the lead to a field goal. This time the Lions got the playcall |
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t hey wanted, but the shuttle pass was mobbed by the Gators' defensive line.James Gifford made his third tackle on kick-off coverage to hold the Gators' returner in check to start the next possession. With six minutes left on the clock, safety Matt Garman tackled Prill for no gain on the speed option to put UTS behind in the count. After a false start on offence, Prill short-armed an incomplete pass to set up 3rd and long. Prill went deep for Krause on the seam route, but Bourke had it covered from deep and came up to knock the pass away. Out of field goal range, UTS decided to try to exert some defensive pressure of their own and punted the ball away on 4th down. The Gators' punt team executed a nice play to down the ball at the Lions' 3 yard line. Three plays later and the Lions were still on the 3. Coach Dunne called for maximum pass protection and dialled up an isolation play for Dorney. Trying too hard to make something happen, the Gators' defensive |
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 The Lions' crowd the sideline as Dorney sets off towards the endzone |
line jumped the gun giving Kelen a free play. He laid the ball out beautifully for Dorney on the streak pattern, who slowed down a fraction to nurse the ball in over his shoulder at the 30 yard line. The covering cornerback was always out of position and failed to hold a diving grasp at the ankles, but the free safety had a clean shot at making the tackle. As Dorney stepped out of the cornerback's tackle, he fended off the safety, who had over-pursued on the play. As the safety fell to the ground, Dorney regathered his stride and was in the clear, racing away up the Lions' sideline for an 87 yard touchdown. There was still an element of tension until the officials confirmed that the penalty flag was for offside on the UTS defensive line, but the Lions had shown their class under pressure to make the longest play from scrimmage in NSW championship game history. The extra point was good to give the Lions an eight point lead at 34-26. Now the pressure was on UTS to make a play. The pressure was too much for one |
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UTS player, who was ejected after
a late hit on the kick-off. On first down, the Gators went deep for
Weeks, but Sinton was in position in centre field to break up the pass.
Veteran linebacker Greg Wernecke and freshman lineman Alex Denby then
combined to bring down the UTS fullback for only a yard. On third and
long, Prill went deep for Weeks again on exactly the same pattern and, this
time, Sinton misjudged his break on the ball. Weeks had got deep on
Sinton, with only cornerback Eric Reutemann having a chance to bring him down,
but the ball fell through Weeks's hands incomplete. There was no choice but to go for it on fourth down. Prill tried to hit his tight end on a short release pattern into the flats, but the Lions had him well covered and the pass fell incomplete. The Lions took over on downs with nothing more to do than just run out the clock. Or so they thought. After having just pulled off the longest pass play in Lions history, |
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 Dorney roars after the game breaking touchdown |
the offence then failed to execute the most basic play in football - the centre/quarterback exchange. For the first time in the year, Snape and Kelen botched the snap, with the ball bouncing forward to be recovered by the Gators. The Gators now had the ball back with one last chance to go 52 yards for a touchdown and then tie up the score in regulation time with a 2 point conversion. The Gators got their drive to survive moving with a powerful run for a first down from their fullback, Hamish Holland. They went back to Holland on the next play but the Lions were ready. Defensive tackle Fady Aoun split a double team block and stuffed Holland at the line of scrimmage. Defensive end Piotr Milewski fought up the line and applied a bear hug to hold Holland for no gain. Perhaps because he had got out of gaol free once before on the inadvertent whistle call, Holland still thought it was a good idea to try to flop the ball back to someone in a worse position than himself. The UTS tight end was the unfortunate target. Wernecke pounced |
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from the tight end's blindside and stripped the ball for linebacker Nick Baldwin to recover the fumble and put the Gators out of their misery. One can only think that the UTS coaches had not chewed out their fullback hard enough over the first incident for him to entertain the notion of a repeat offence. This time there would be no gift turnovers from the Lions. Croasdaile needed four carries and a measurement to eke out the final first down. The Lions soaked up the Gators' remaining timeouts and, on 3rd and 2 on the Gators' 15 yard line, Kelen took a knee to end the game and deliver the championship to the Lions. The win added a seventh straight Waratah Bowl to the Lions' trophy cabinet. Over those seven championship seasons, the Lions have amassed a record of 84 wins and 2 losses. Not quite perfection, but certainly close enough to put the Lions into seventh heaven. |
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 Head Coach Stephen Dunne after the win |
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 Captains Mac Shine, Joe Lim, David Thode and Leigh Louey-Gung raise Sydney Uni's seventh straight Waratah Bowl |
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