Sydney Uni American Football Club

There is an old football adage that says to succeed in the playoffs, a team needs to be able to run the ball and play good defense. The Sydney University Lions did nothing to dispel this theory as they defeated the UTS Gators 42 – 9 to book their place in a 12th consecutive Waratah Bowl. The offense churned out over 250 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground, but it was the defense that starred on the night. Forcing 4 turnovers and keeping the Gators out of the endzone for three and a half quarters, the Lions defenders made crucial stops in the redzone and allowed their offense to ease into the game after a slow start.

The Lions' D put on a clinic.

It was in fact the Gators offense that looked most ready to play after UTS fielded the opening kickoff. They relied on their running backs and rattled off two first downs before being stifled by defensive linemen Fady Aoun and Andreas Lundin.

The Lions offense was unable to move the ball and quickly punted the back to UTS who mounted another drive. With the ground game featuring heavily, their biggest gain came on an unexpected pass play that took the ball deep into Lions territory. Nick Olive made the tackle that prevented an even bigger gain, and the defense rallied. Joe Lim made two of the next three tackles and Michael Rigney made the other as UTS was forced to attempt a field goal. The kick was pulled to the left and the Lions O returned to the field.

It will require two of you, and holding, to stop Mr Rigney

Again Sydney Uni’s offense did little with the ball. After a first down run, the Lions were unable to pass or run, and instead punted, and once again UTS looked impressive in possession.

The Gators running game got rolling again as the first quarter came to an end with the score locked at 0 – 0. And the Lions defense got stout again once the Gators threatened the redzone. There was no escaping the clutches of Nicolai Hansen or Leigh Louey-Gung for UTS attackers, and the field goal unit came onto the field. The kick was good and the Gators had a 3 point lead.

Leigh "Game Master" Louey Gung was negging all over the field

That was enough to wake the Uni offense out of its slumber. When they returned to the field the backfield combination of Liam Erby and Alex Watson found their rhythm and started making inroads into to the UTS defense. The Lion’s offensive line was making the space and Erby and Watson simply ran into it. Watson sealed the first impressive drive for the Lions with a short distance scoring run, the extra point was good and the Lions had claimed the lead.

Thunder and Lightning celebrating in the endzone.

The Sydney Uni defense had done such a great job up to that point absorbing the Gators attacks. When UTS tool the ball following the kickoff, the Lions defenders started to attack. Whenever UTS dropped back to throw, the Lions pass rush was not far behind. Hansen, Mitch Haney and Chady Aoun were applying pressure and that led to an errant throw by the Gators quarterback into the waiting arms of Mathieu Bertrand. The defensive back set his sights on the endzone, but was hauled down short of the line.

A genuine ball magnet, oppositions can't help giving it up to Bertrand

The turnover gave the Lions ideal field position and Erby did not waste the opportunity to cash in with a score.

At 14 – 3, the complexion of the game had changed and the Gators – after having looked so dangerous early – were forced to chase. This soon led to another turnover with Lions cornerback Suren Wickramasinghe working his way into perfect position to nab an interception.

Suren popping and/or locking after making a play on the ball

Had Uni been able to score after the turnover, the match could have quickly gotten out of hand. However the Gators held strong and forced another Lions punt which Liam Erby dropped inside the five yard line. Though a penalty relieved the pressure on UTS, they were unable to move the ball. Lim, working behind behemoth defensive tackles Rigney and Aoun was eating up runners and ensured a UTS punt.

With only seconds in the half remaining, Kiernan Dorney found receivers Daniel Kelen and Sam Darcy (the latter making a great catch) to progress the ball, but time ran out and the first half came to a close with Lions holding an 11 point lead.

Kiernan "Laser Arm" Dorney demonstrating to UTS how he got his moniker

The Lions took the kickoff in the second half and quickly drove a dagger into the heart of the Gators. On the second down the ball was handed to Liam Erby who showed every facet of his offensive talent as he burst through the line, twice juked past would-be tacklers and then turned on the jets to outrun the rest of the UTS defense on his way to a 50 yard touchdown. It may have been the signature play of the night for Erby, but it was only a portion of his contribution to the team. The reigning league MVP was also 6 for 6 on extra points and frequently delivered kickoffs and punts that pinned UTS in their own half. Moreover, Erby had started the match at linebacker as well as running back and pressured, stuffed and tackled the Gators all night. It was a display of Erby’s talent and versatility, and an amazing performance.

Triple Threat Erby taking the ball to where it belongs

The touchdown sparked even better play from the Uni defenders who shut down the Gators next two possessions. Tackles by Steve Dabin and Timothy Snape were made to prevent a first down on the first drive, and an interception by Olive on a fourth down pass put an end to their second.

UTS had no answer to the Gold Rush

The Lions offense was rolling once again. Shifting into a two-back formation the ball was given to the Thunder and Lightning combination of Watson and Erby who bounced their way down field. It was behind the blocking of David Thode, Cameron Lawrence, James Gifford, Aaron Carbury and Dave Allen that the big gains could be made, and even on a night where the Lions passing attack was not posing much threat, the O- line was shifting defenders at will. Sydney Uni mounted their longest drive of the game, a pounding, time-consuming march of 65 yards that was capped by Watson barrelling over the goal line for his second score. The third quarter ended with Uni holding a 28-3 lead.

The right hand side of The Institute line. Not as attractive as the left, but better blockers

UTS were not giving up, but the Lions defense was not budging. The Gators drove inside the Lions 30 yard line, but were thwarted out of a scoring chance when Fady Aoun knifed into the offensive backfields and tore the ball away from the quarterback during an attempted handoff. Though Aoun did not quite have the pace to run the ball back for a score, the Gators were quickly punished for their error by the Lions attack.

Having run so well all day, it was little wonder that it would be play action that provided the Lions best passing play of the game. Dorney faked a sweep to receiver Tristan Cauhepe, and then stood in the pocket and delivered a laser of a throw to a streaking Harry Granger who was untouched as he ran in for the score. It was Granger’s third big catch down the middle of the field in as many games.

Perhaps Uni’s offense should have taken more time to score. Their defense returned to the field and looked like it could have used a bigger break as UTS marched ball. Despite their best efforts, the Lions D could not prevent a Gators touchdown. It did little to diminish an absolutely stellar performance by the Lions defenders who made plays when it mattered and big plays when it mattered most.

The Lions offense was driving again when they reclaimed possession – runs by Mac Shine, Erby and Watson moved the ball into the redzone.  Kelen stepped in for a play at quarterback and promptly stepped a couple of defenders as he ran into the endzone with only left tackle Dave Thode (avidly looking for an offload, rather than actually trying to block anyone) anywhere near him when he crossed the line. Erby’s sixth conversion of the day ended the scoring. UTS were unable to get anything going on their final possession, and their defense could not prevent the Lions gaining the first down they needed to run out the clock.

Dr Beef in stride

It was playoff football pure and simple. With four Uni runners gaining over 30 yards but none going for more than 99, it was clearly a day where offensive success was put on the shoulders of the Lions offensive line who did not disappoint. However the night belonged to the Lions defense who time and time again stood tall and strong and resolute when the Lions needed a stop.

Watto pounding the ball

Sydney University will play the West Sydney Pirates on Saturday night in a rematch of one the season’s most dramatic clashes. It marks the twelfth championship game in 12 years the Steve Dunne-coached Lions will contest, and a win would give the team nine consecutive Waratah Bowl victories. It won’t be easy against a Pirates side who trounced the UWS Outlaws in their semi final, but it should be an extremely entertaining encounter between the two best sides in the NSWGFL.