LIONS SWEEP PIRATES

Sydney Uni completed a series sweep against West Sydney for 2007 by defeating the Pirates 36-12 in their round 8 match at Berkeley Sports Club on Saturday afternoon. 

The Lions had dominated an under-prepared Pirates squad in their round 1 game, but the re-match was alway going to be a tighter affair.  For one thing, the Lions were coming off an enforced two week lay-off after the Raiders forfeit and a wash-out.  Further, the Pirates were in the middle of a tight race for a play-off spot, with every result crucial to their hopes of advancing.  With absences in both squads due to the match being re-scheduled, it all pointed to a closer encounter.  And so it proved to be.  

The Lions started like it was business as usual.  Good coverage on the opening kick-off had the Pirates starting from deep in their own half.  Cornerback Chris Snagg then picked off a Dave Ward pass at the 32 yard line and the Lions took over.  After a three play drive, the ball was punched into the endzone by freshman running back Jeremy Paske from short range.   Liam Erby added the extra point for an early 7-0 lead. 

But the Pirates showed they meant to fight on their next possession, going the length of the field on a seventeen play drive, involving a number of third down completions, to score on a short pass to the endzone.  The Lions regathered to block the extra point attempt and keep the lead 7-6. 

The Lions were having to rotate a number of players through their offensive backfield - Chris Snagg, Joe Lim, Mac Shine, Jeremy Paske and Liam Erby all getting time at running back - and the offence was lacking its usual consistency.  Finally, with less than two minutes on the clock in the first half, the offence found its rhythm.  Having only one timeout left, quarterback Dan Kelen and his receivers worked the sideline and marched the ball downfield.  With barely 4 seconds remaining, Kelen hit Brad Ryals on a short slant pattern for a touchdown, a 13-6 lead and the momentum going into the break. 

The Lions used that momentum to forge ahead in the second half.  The offensive line of Andrew Matthews, Cameron Lawrence, Dave Allen, James Gifford and Paul Edwards began to assert itself and the backfield pairing of Chris Snagg and Joe Lim proved effective on the ground - Lim bustling for gains of 11 and 13 yards on the opening drive.  After working the ball close, Kelen ran a bootleg and, seeing his receivers covered, tucked the ball and dived into the endzone for a score.  A successful PAT raised the score to 20-6. 

The Pirates were not done, however, and answered with a 28 yard scoring pass to bring the score back to 20-12.  But from that point on, the Lions defence took control with increasing pressure on the Pirates' quarterback and effective coverage from the secondary. 

The remainder of the half featured a number of plays for the highlight reel. 

Safety Anthony Sinton laid down a devastating block on a Colby Myers interception, springing Myers for a 17 yard return. The Lions put the ball in the endzone following the turnover, only for the pass to be called back.  The drive ended with Erby kicking a 26 yard field goal for a 23-12 lead. 

The Lions next possession lasted only one play, but went 75 yards - Kelen hitting Ryals on a fly pattern and Ryals leaving the Pirates' secondary floundering in his wake. 

Finally, special teams pulled out a touchdown, safety Leigh Louey-Gung whipping his man and blocking a Pirates' punt for Colby Myers to scoop up the ball and run it 20 yards into the endzone.   With the score at 36-12, this was the final nail for the Pirates, who pulled their starting quarterback and ran out the clock. 

The Lions return to Berkeley next week to meet the home town Mustangs. 

Sydney Uni Lions 36 def. West Sydney Pirates 12

17 November 2007

Berkeley Sports Club

1Q SU:  Paske 6 yd TD run.  Erby PAT                        7:0

2Q WS:  # 5 yd TD pass from Ward. PAT blocked               7:6

2Q SU:  Ryals 3 yd TD pass from Kelen. Erby PAT failed     13:6

3Q SU:  Kelen 5 yd TD run. Erby PAT                        20:6

3Q WS:  # 28 yd TD pass from Ward. PAT blocked             20:12

4Q SU:  Erby 26 yd FG                                      23:12

4Q SU:  Ryals 75 yd TD pass from Kelen.  Erby PAT failed   29:12

4Q NW:  Myers 20 yd punt block return TD. Erby PAT         36:12