LIONS MAUL PIRATES

Sydney Uni won through to the 2007 Waratah Bowl with a comprehensive 46-8 victory over the West Sydney Pirates on Saturday night.

The Lions victory was built on a foundation of tough defence.  The front seven applied relentless pressure to the Pirates backfield, recording 5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss to hold West Sydney to 29 net yards on the ground.  This pressure told early, with Pirates quarterback Dave Ward throwing 3 interceptions in his first 6 pass attempts.  Colby Myers returned the second of these interceptions 38 yards to the 10 yard line to set up a Dan Kelen to Mac Shine pass for the opening touchdown.  Myers would have an outstanding game, making 11 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and a sack, while taking 2 interceptions and breaking up 3 other passes.  

Myers's second interception got the ball back for the Lions' second score.  After two short runs by Croasdaile brought up 3rd and 6 at mid-field, Kelen went for a short screen pass, only Croasdaile was not satisfied with a short gain.  Excellent blocking from linemen Dave Thode and Cameron Lawrence and receivers Mathew Freeman and Brad Ryals sprung Croasdaile into the clear to see him streak away for a 54 yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead. 

The Pirates had to punt the ball away without gaining a first down on their next drive after outside linebacker Keenan Mackett collared Ward for a sack on first down and made the tackle on the screen play on third down.  The Lions were a model of efficiency when they got the ball back, going 42 yards on 5 plays for their third touchdown on a short run by Liam Erby.  The PAT was missed, but at 20-0, the game was getting away from the Pirates.

The Pirates faced a pivotal play on their next drive.  After moving into the Lions half, they found themselves at 4th and 12 on the 28 yard line.   Electing to go for it, the play went horribly wrong when the shotgun snap sailed over the head of quarterback Ward, who was then sacked for an 18 yard loss by Mackett after recovering the ball.  The Lions made the Pirates pay dearly for the mistake.  Kelen hit Brad Ryals for passes of 23 yards and 21 yards, the second for a touchdown, to move the Lions further away at 27-0. 

However, the Pirates re-grouped to finally get on the scoreboard in the shadow of half-time.  A good kick-off return got them to the Lions' 31 yard line and a roughing the passer penalty brought them to the 17 yard line.  From there, Ward connected for a touchdown pass on a lofted throw and, with a successful 2 point play, got the Pirates back to within 19 points.  The touchdown was the only blemish by the Lions secondary, which held Ward to only 10 completions on 20 attempts and 84 yards, while picking off 3 interceptions.   

Any hopes the Pirates had for a second half comeback were surely dashed on the opening kick-off.  Brad Ryals fielded the kick on the bounce and steamed through the coverage and around the kicker for a 68 yard touchdown return.  This was Ryals's second kick-off return for a touchdown this season - a new club record.  

There was no let up from the Lions defence in the second half.  Linebacker Nick Baldwin tackled the Pirates running back for losses on the first two plays and Myers broke up the third down pass attempt.  Kelen then directed the offence on a 53 yard drive for a touchdown to Croasdaile on the ground.  Kelen would finish the game with typically efficient numbers of 14 completions on 20 attempts for 205 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.     

Late in the game, the Lions got the ball back when they held the Pirates out on 4th and Goal on the 2 yard line and handed it over to Mac Shine to run the offence.  Shine showed his determination when he stripped and recovered the ball from a Pirates player who had picked up a fumbled snap and was heading for the endzone.  Shine then hit Tristan Cauhepe, who put on a Houdini escape act to slip his defender and race 63 yards.  A few plays later, Shine finished the drive with a rushing touchdown to bring the score to 46-8. 

The Lions now meet the UTS Gators in the 2007 Waratah Bowl next Saturday at Homebush, kick-off at 5pm. 

Sydney Uni Lions 46 def. West Sydney Pirates 8

8 December 2007

Homebush Hockey Field

1Q SU:  Shine 9 yd TD pass from Kelen. Erby PAT             7:0

2Q SU:  Croasdaile 54 yd TD pass from Kelen. Erby PAT      14:0

2Q SU:  Erby 2 yd TD run. Erby PAT failed                  20:0

2Q SU:  Ryals 21 yd TD pass from Kelen. Erby PAT           27:0

2Q WS:  # 17 yd TD pass from Ward. 2pt run                 27:8

3Q SU:  Ryals 68 yd TD kick-off return. Erby PAT failed    33:8

3Q SU:  Croasdaile 5 yd TD run.  Erby PAT blocked          39:8

4Q SU:  Shine 1 yd TD run. Erby PAT                        46:8