Sydney Uni made short work of its Round 10 match on Saturday afternoon, devouring the Predators 54-0 at the St George Hockey Centre.  

The Lions dominated on the ground, rushing for over 300 yards at more than 10 yards per carry.  Matthew Croasdaile led the way with 166 yards on 17 carries but was only the lead weapon in a triple threat backfield.  Liam Erby also cut loose for 83 yards on only 5 carries, including a 40 yard touchdown run through the heart of the Predators' defence, while freshman Harry Edwards pitched in with 56 yards on only 4 carries, scoring his first career touchdown on a 23 yard run off right tackle. 

Although the Lions dominated on the ground, they scored first through the air.  The Predators had chanced their arm on their first drive, going for it on 4th and 4 but being stopped for no gain on their own 38 yard line.  The Lions accepted the gift field position and even showed the Predators how it is done - converting their own 4th and 3 situation with a 6 yard Croasdaile run - before Dan Kelen found Matthew Freeman open across the middle for the touchdown. 

The Predators went for it on 4th down at the end of their next drive too.  This time a 15 yard personal foul and a 12 yard run on first down had got the Predators to the Lions' 21 yard line before Joe Lim slowed their progress with a sack on 3rd down.  Lim would make 4 backfield tackles in the game - 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss - and the play put the Predators in a hole at 4th and 17.  Freshman Huw Grenfell and veteran Anthony Sinton had the play covered and the Predators' 4th down pass fell incomplete.  The Lions had another turnover on downs and took full advantage.

It took only three plays for the Lions to score.  On 3rd and 1, Croasdaile started a pitch right, cut upfield inside defensive penetration and found a lane behind a key block from centre, David Allen, back to the left and all the way up the sideline for a 39 yard touchdown.  Liam Erby added the extras for a 14-0 lead. 

None of this offensive firepower was possible without the work of the offensive line.  Ben Dodds, David Thode, David Allen, Piotr Milewski, Aaron Carbury and David Kong opened holes for the running backs all afternoon and did not allow a single sack.  Only one offensive play went for a loss - and that was due to a fumble on the handoff. 

The defence was also putting in a solid day's work.  Joe Lim and Leigh Louey-Gung lead the tackle count from their inside linebacker positions behind strong play from Fady Aoun, Tau Saipaia, Chady Aoun, Troy Carrick, James Tootell and Musa Ovalle on the defensive line.  Huw Grenfell started his first game at cornerback, while Andrea Canepa took an interception on just about his first play in the game.  The secondary kept a clean sheet, allowing only 8 completions of 23 attempts while picking off two passes. 

The defence sent the Predators three and out on their next drive and it looked like the Lions might go the same way after two successive holding penalties saw them looking at 3rd and 20 on their own 13 yard line.  Never fear, Gifford's here - the tight end hauling in a 39 yard pass for the first down and then completing the drive with a 16 yard touchdown reception at the corner post.  Gifford would lead all receivers on the day with 5 catches for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns.  

The offence did not muck around on their next drive either.  On the third play at midfield, Liam Erby took a counter play through a big hole in the left side of the line and into the Predators' secondary after David Thode had turned the middle linebacker past the play.  Erby used his speed and a change of direction to slice his way untouched through the defence and all the way for a 40 yard touchdown and a 28-0 lead. 

The Lions were showing no mercy and were soon in the endzone again.  The defence stopped the Predators inside one set of downs and good pressure on the punter saw the ball only cleared to mid-field.  Croasdaile ran the ball to the 13 yard line, where Kelen and Tristan Cauhepe combined on a touchdown pass over the outstretched arms of the beaten cornerback.  That ended the scoring for the first half with the Lions in control at 34-0. 

Sydney Uni added to that total almost straight away after the half-time break.  Thomas Frazer returned the kick-off 20 yards and Liam Erby added 21 more yards on a first down run.  Dan Kelen and James Gifford completed the 2 play drive with Gifford taking a short pass 23 yards for a touchdown.  The play finished Dan Kelen's work for the day, a typically efficient 9-of-12 for 137 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

That meant Andrew Frawley had the chance to lead the varsity on its longest drive of the season after the Lions next got the ball on their 2 yard line.  Croasdaile seemed to have the chance to take the ball 70 yards on the second play of the drive after burrowing through the line and into the clear.  However, he veered to take on his pursuers and was brought down after a 53 yard gain.  Liam Erby finished off the 78 yard drive from close range to move the score to 47-0. 

The final score came after Andrea Canepa had picked off the Predators' quarterback to give the Lions good field position once more.   Freshman running back, Harry Edwards, delivered on his training ground promise by heading off right tackle, cutting in behind a Mac Shine block and buffeting his way through two Predators defenders and into the endzone for a 23 yard touchdown. 

At 54-0, the Lions had scored the most points and had their biggest win in 4 games against the young Predators franchise.   Even in their 25th year, the Lions are still hungry.