LIONS WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT WARATAH BOWL
Sydney University showed its class and big game temperament to triumph over UTS in a memorable 2006 Waratah Bowl. The Lions combined their powerful ground game and pressure defence with some big play magic to score an impressive 34-26 victory. The win secured an eighth NSWGFL championship for Sydney University - the most by any club - and its fourth straight Waratah Bowl.
Sydney Uni came into the match as favourites after finishing the regular season as top seed with a 9-1 record and defeating the Penrith City Outlaws 25-15 in a tough playoff encounter. UTS had showcased a big play passing offence in going 7-2-1 in the regular season and had run away with its playoff game against the West Sydney Pirates, winning 52-32. In their only match-up during the year, the Lions had defeated UTS 20-17 in a high quality match. The game also had a number of interesting sub-plots. The Sydney Uni offence was facing the Lions' former defensive co-ordinator, Ese Enari, and two of the Lions' former greats in Lufi Tolai and Fred Guitau, who had all gone over to UTS. The Lions were also trying to stretch their unbeaten run against UTS to 18 games. There was plenty at stake.
The game was played on the 80 yard astroturf hockey field at Homebush and began in damp conditions following a torrential downpour shortly before the game - not unlike the 2004 Waratah Bowl. Sydney Uni won the toss but deferred, giving UTS the first use of the ball, and the Gators drove into the Lions' half using a combination of short completions and scrambles from quarterback Simon Irrgang to combat the fierce pressure of the Lions' defence. On 3rd and 4 on the Lions' 32 yard line, Irrgang could not contain himself any longer and launched a deep ball for a streaking receiver, but an inspired substitution and perfect man coverage saw Chris Snagg in position to intercept the pass while running step for step with the receiver to snuff out the scoring threat.
The Lions then set about establishing their ground game. After being marched back on a holding penalty, the varsity faced 2nd and 21 on its 9 yard line. Head Coach Stephen Dunne called for the counter pull and Laurie Hypponen and Dave Allen on the right side of the line sealed off UTS linemen (and ex-Lions) Lufi Tolai and Fred Guitau as Matt Croasdaile swept around the end. Croasdaile hit the cutback lane perfectly, breaking back off a block from pulling guard Cameron Lawrence and following pulling tackle James Gifford into the secondary. Gifford took care of the UTS safety, Mathew Freeman shielded his defender and Croasdaile hit the afterburners to run away from the pursuit for a 71 yard touchdown. Ground game established. Liam Erby kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead.
A decent kick-off return saw UTS start its next possession only 45 yards from the endzone. This time UTS moved the ball mainly on the ground, stringing together a series of running plays down to the Lions' 7 yard line. On second down, defensive end Fady Aoun flushed Irrgang out of the pocket, but the UTS quarterback scrambled to his right and found receiver Jason Turner at the back corner of the endzone with one foot barely inbounds to even up the score.
With similar starting field position after the kick-off return from Anthony Sinton, the Lions then drove confidently towards a go-ahead score. Mathew Freeman sparked the drive with a 17 yard reception - most of the yards coming after catching a short hook - and Chris Snagg snaked his way for 12 yards down to the UTS 6 yard line behind a strong kick block from centre Tim Snape. However, on the next play, Fred Guitau burst through the line and stripped the ball from Snagg to cause the Lions to give up their first turnover in four Waratah Bowls.
On the next play from the 2 yard line, cornerback David Bourke had UTS receiver Jamie Weekes in his grasp for a safety on the screen play, only for Weekes to spin free and escape from the endzone. However, the Lions defence was now warming to its task and its combination of pressure and coverage caused false start penalties and incompletions to end the UTS drive at its 18 yard line. After regaining the ball deep in its own territory after the punt, the Lions gave it up again almost immediately, quarterback Kiernan Dorney being picked off trying for a deep pass to Mathew Freeman. Again the Lions' defence was up to the task. Freshman lineman Robert Severne batted down an attempted pass and veteran Fady Aoun sliced through to cut down the UTS running back behind the line of scrimmage. Although UTS ran 8 plays in the drive, they ended up only 2 yards from where they started, Joe Lim ending the series with a sack.
The ensuing UTS punt was long, and made even longer when returner Anthony Sinton allowed the ball to bounce and then fumbled it behind him into the endzone. Finally securing the ball a yard behind the goal line, Sinton ran infield and then straightened behind a covering block from Grenville Newbond. As the UTS defenders converged, Sinton brushed through one, two, three arm tackles and spun out of a fourth solid hit. Key blocks were laid down by Nick Baldwin, David Bourke, Fady Aoun, Leigh Louey-Gung and James Gifford to open a seam up the middle as Sinton streaked to midfield. There he picked up flanking support from Joe Lim and a lead block from Chibs Okereke, both of whom showed great concentration to avoid any illegal contact. Sinton milked these blocks and then accelerated into the clear to go the length of the field as the grandstand cheered a memorable touchdown. This was Sinton's second long punt return for a touchdown in a Waratah Bowl, having broken the 2004 Waratah Bowl open with an 80 yard touchdown return. The 2006 version was 1 yard longer (thanks to the fumble) and increased Sinton's Lions record for touchdown returns to six. The PAT was good for a 14-7 lead.
UTS almost had the perfect comeback on the following kick-off, Jason Turner returning the kick all the way into the endzone only for an unnecessary block in the back to wipe off the score and put the ball on the Lions' 25 yard line. However, UTS were only delayed, not denied. After being forced back to 2nd and 23 on the Lions' 38 yard line following another Joe Lim sack, Irrgang launched a deep ball down the centre of the field to receiver Patrick Raveloson, who got behind Lions free safety Sinton and held a diving catch at the 2 yard line. Irrgang dove through the line for the touchdown on the next play, but the UTS kicker pushed the PAT wide to keep the Lions in the lead 14-13.
With little time left in the half, the Lions regained the ball on their own 23 yard line after the kick-off. A strong run from Croasdaile and a personal foul against Fred Guitau got the Lions on the move. A key third down completion from Dorney to Snagg out of the backfield kept the drive alive and Liam Erby took the ball to the 11 yard line on a well-executed shuttle pass. Using their timeouts to preserve the clock, the Lions drove in for the touchdown - Chris Snagg following Lawrence and Gifford off right tackle for the score. Erby kicked the extras to extend the lead to 21-13. The Lions shut down the Gators' one last play before half-time, sending the teams to the locker room with Sydney University holding an eight point lead.
The Lions had the ball to start the second half. Dorney scrambled for 11 yards to convert a third down play and the Lions drove into the UTS half on the back of strong running from Snagg. A holding penalty sent the Lions back and they turned the ball over on downs after first Mac Shine, and then Mathew Freeman, failed to make tough catches to extend the drive. But UTS ran into a rampant Lions defence. On first down, Fady Aoun drove the UTS centre back and then grabbed Irrgang as he tried to escape the collapsing pocket. On second down, Aoun fought his way along the line of scrimmage and, with linebacker Joe Lim, smashed Irrgang for no gain as he tried to run the option play. On 3rd and 10 and under pressure by Lim from the corner and Ryan Wonser up the middle, Irrgang was rushed into throwing incomplete to send UTS three and out. James Gifford returned the punt 14 yards to give the Lions the ball back on their 34 yard line.
The Lions running game then bared its teeth. Snagg and Croasdaile shared the ball on 10 consecutive running plays as the offensive line pounded UTS into submission. Centre Tim Snape released Snagg for 12 yards down the short side with a clever kick block. Tackle Laurie Hypponen lead the way for Snagg to grab 10 more yards behind excellent open field blocking from Liam Erby. On 3rd and 6 on the UTS 9 yard line, David Allen pancaked the UTS outside linebacker for the second time on the drive to spring Croasdaile around the left end. Hypponen hooked the linebacker, Erby shunted his opponent backwards and Croasdaile made the only defender with a decent shot at him miss with a burst of speed to the outside and into the endzone. The PAT was missed to keep the score at 27-13.
The Lions sensed that the game was there to be won. A deep kick from Erby and good pursuit from the coverage team saw UTS start its next possession on its 12 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Irrgang tried to find Raveloson with a pass over the middle as he shifted in the pocket to escape the blitz from Lions linebacker Nick Baldwin, but only succeeded in finding Anthony Sinton as he lay in wait in his middle zone. Sinton returned the ball 21 yards to set up the Lions with 1st and Goal on the UTS 7 yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Croasdaile lined up at fullback to give Snagg a well earned rest and bulled the ball into the left corner of the endzone following key blocks by Erby (subbing for Croasdaile at Monster) and freshman Keenan Mackett (subbing for Erby at receiver). The touchdown was a testament to the work the offence had put in to learn and execute the new run plays installed mid-way through the season. The lead was extended to 34-13 with a successful PAT.
UTS knew it would have to get something going on its next drive and came out throwing. On first down, Lions cornerback David Bourke just could not hold on to an interception chance as Irrgang threw deep for the post pattern. A few plays later, Bourke was again the closest player to a deep ball but could not get in position for the pick. Bourke was left to rue these half chances when, on 3rd and 13, he bit on the hook of a hook and go to allow UTS receiver Turner to make a 21 yard reception down to the Lions 15 yard line. UTS then ran the ball in for a touchdown to bring the score back to 34-20.
The Lions kept the ball on the ground to run time off the clock. Snagg responded with runs of 15 yards and then a classic darting effort of 19 yards on 3rd and 7. A 15 yard personal foul by UTS defensive captain Migliazza added to the UTS woes. A neat completion to Freeman had the Lions on the UTS 5 yard line. However, the Lions fourth holding penalty set them back and Dorney failed to find Erby on a fourth down pass attempt to hand the ball back to UTS with nothing to show for the drive. When Irrgang hit a long completion to Raveloson down to the Lions 21 yard line it looked like UTS would make the Lions pay. But the Lions defence had other ideas. On second down, Irrgang rolled right and threw for the corner pattern only for Lions safety Leigh Louey-Gung to step up from his deep zone to break up the pass. After a holding penalty, Irrgang was throwing for Turner on the hook and go pattern again but Louey-Gung read the play and smacked the ball to the ground. Finally, on 4th and 26, Snagg was in position on the deep ball to hold his second interception and put an end to the drive.
The Lions ran some more time off the clock before punting deep. The UTS returner bobbled the ball back into the endzone and then tried to run it out, only to be claimed by Louey-Gung and Mac Shine and driven out the back of the endzone. However, as the returner had never taken possession outside the endzone, the ruling was a touchback not a safety. With less than 40 seconds on the clock and the Lions substituting their squad into the game, the defence was caught with 12 men on the field. As the extra man was run off the field, UTS passed to that spot and found Turner uncovered with a blocker in front. In the confusion that followed, the Lions defence failed to put Turner over the sideline and saw him run away for a 65 yard TD. UTS missed the PAT, but at 34-26 were still within eight points of overtime.
UTS tried a hard, flat kick at the front row on the onside kick, but it bounced through for Mr Everywhere, Chris Snagg, to fall on the ball to make the recovery. Dorney knelt the ball down twice and the Lions had their fourth consecutive Waratah Bowl victory. Matt Croasdaile was rewarded for his three touchdown performance with the MVP award. Croasdaile finished with 118 yards on 13 carries and, with Chris Snagg gaining 112 yards, the Lions had run for a healthy 245 yards at 6.6 yards a carry. On defence, the team had been lead by Joe Lim with 11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 2 sacks, Leigh Louey-Gung with 9 tackles and 3 pass break ups, Nick Baldwin with 7 tackles, David Bourke with 7 tackles and 2 pass break ups, Fady Aoun with 4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss, Chris Snagg with 3 tackles and 2 interceptions and Anthony Sinton with 4 tackles and 1 interception. On special teams, Liam Erby kicked 4 of 5 PATs and Sinton scored on the 81 yard punt return.
At half-time, it was announced that Head Coach Stephen Dunne had been voted NSWGFL Coach of the Year by his peers and at full-time he was holding the 2006 Waratah Bowl aloft. Both were fitting tributes for his success in installing a shotgun spread option with Anthony Sinton at quarterback at the start of the year to cope with the loss of both starting quarterbacks from 2005 and then shifting gears in his base offence with Kiernan Dorney back under centre to take advantage of the twin ground threats of Chris Snagg and Matt Croasdaile. Defensive co-ordinator Craig Morgan maintained the Lions defence as the best in the NSWGFL and Andrew Ogborne added his expertise at key times in the season.
But in the end it was the 2006 Lions playing squad which earned the championship. The Lions were involved in many tight contests this year and came out on top when it counted. The 2006 Waratah Bowl was no exception. Every member can be proud of the effort involved in becoming a championship team - for the fourth time running!
2006 Waratah Bowl
Sydney Uni Lions 34 def. UTS Gators 26
2 December 2006
Homebush Hockey Field No 2, Homebush
1Q SU: Croasdaile 71 yd TD run. Erby PAT. 7:0
1Q UTS: Turner 7 yd TD pass from Irrgang. Irvine PAT 7:7
2Q SU: Sinton 81 yd punt return TD. Erby PAT 14:7
2Q UTS: Irrgang 2 yd TD run. PAT failed 14:13
2Q SU: Snagg 2 yd TD run. Erby PAT. 21:13
3Q SU: Croasdaile 9 yd TD run. PAT failed 27:13
3Q SU: Croasdaile 7 yd TD run. Erby PAT 34:13
4Q UTS: Djite 2 yd TD run. Irvine PAT 34:20
4Q SU: Turner 65 yd TD pass from Irrgang. PAT failed 34:26