Lions Stay On Top
Posted on September 11, 2010
Liam Erby (17) out ran the Gators defence for a 72 yard touchdown to open the scoring
Sydney Uni won the Waratah Bowl re-match against UTS 42-34 at Bill Delauney Reserve on Saturday afternoon to stay undefeated and on top of the Gridiron NSW table.
The game got off to a hectic start, with a Gators’ receiver winning the jump on a long ball thrown on the first play, but then being stripped by cornerback Kevin Trinh. The ball bounced into the endzone where it was recovered by middle linebacker Joe Lim, who had pursued the play for over 50 yards to win the race to the ball.
The Lions drove out to midfield and caught a break when UTS punt returner Jamie Weeks botched the catch for James Gifford to recover the ball at the Gators’ 29. But the Lions could not take advantage, turning the ball over on downs.
Backers Greg Wernecke (49), Joe Lim (56) and Chris Noble (52) hunted as a pack for the Lions D
After getting the ball back on their own 28 yard line, the Lions’ offence roared into life. Liam Erby followed his blockers right, cut back hard left and beat the Gators’ secondary for speed for a 72 yard TD.
The Lions defence was warming to its work, sending the Gators three and out on their next possession and pressuring the punter into a hurried short kick. The defensive line of Piotr Milewski, Fady Aoun and Chady Aoun were winning the battle at the line of scrimmage while linebackers Greg Wernecke, Joe Lim and Chris Noble were harassing the Gators’ backfield with good pressure. Noble would finish with 4 sacks and 4 tackles for loss, Lim with 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss and Wernecke with 5 tackles for loss in a big day out for the backers.
The Lions defence set up the next score after safety Anthony Sinton picked off a pass from the Gators’ quarterback and returned it to the 18 yard line. The Lions needed a 4th down keep from quarterback Kiernan Dorney to get the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
Hugh Tomkins slashed the Gators for 64 yards on only 4 carries, including a 31 yard touchdown
But a long kick-off return and a completion over the middle on 3rd and 15 were all that were needed to peg a score back for the Gators, Jamie Weeks catching the secondary flat footed to take in a 37 yard touchdown reception.
The Lions hit straight back with a dose of freshman speed and power. Hugh Tomkins took the kick-off back 49 yards and then, five plays later, cut back through the Gators defence for a 31 yard touchdown run. The PAT was blocked to keep the score 20-7.
The Lions were soon threatening again after Tomkins had peeled off another long run. But Dorney badly underthrew an open receiver for his first interception of the year.
The Lions defence then forced another scoring opportunity, getting the ball back on the Gators’ 12 yard line after the punter had to dive on a spilled long snap. Freshman Alex Watson showed good direct running not once, but twice, to score the touchdown and double up for the 2 point conversion to lift the score to 28-7.
Liam Erby ran for 211 yards and sealed the game with this 26 yard touchdown late in the fourth
The defence almost engineered another late score, driving the Gators offence back from the 20 to the 4 yard line and just failing to block the punt. UTS were penalised 15 yards for leveling the Lions punt returner while the ball was still in the air – the referees wanting to eject the player for the foul but being unable to identify him – but two hail Marys into the endzone went unanswered for the half to end with the Lions ahead 28-7.
The Lions moved to midfield on their opening possession but had to punt the ball away. The Gators then drove back and, on 3rd and 22, a UTS receiver came back for an underthrown ball to put UTS on the goalline. They ran the ball in for a touchdown but were stopped on their two point conversion attempt to close the score to 28-13.
The Lions responded quickly, Dorney airing the ball out for Tristan Cauhepe to run underneath for a 47 yard touchdown to put the score back out to 35-13.
Kevin Trinh broke up 2 passes and forced a fumble on the opening play
Now into the fourth quarter, the Lions let the Gators back in with another long kickoff return to their 20 yard line. UTS was able to get into the endzone on a fourth down run play to tighten the score to 35-20.
The Lions were driving downfield on their next possession when a strong hit jarred the ball loose from a receiver for a turnover. UTS beat the Lions secondary to a long jump ball and then, on 4th and 5 from the 17, they did it again to score and bring the Gators to within eight points at 35-27.
With time winding down, the Lions drove to the 26 yard line where they faced 4th and 2. Liam Erby got the call and followed outstanding blocking from fullback Alex Watson, tackle David Thode and receiver Mac Shine to torch the Gators for a touchdown. Erby finished with 211 yards on the ground in a power house display.
Up 42-27 and with time almost gone, the Lions squibbed the ensuing kick to limit the return. The Gators held yet another long contested ball, this time sliding along the ground, and UTS ran in a final score at the death. After kneeling their final play, the Lions won out 42-34 to rack up their 25th straight win over UTS and stay on top of the Gridiron NSW table.
The Lions won the battle at the line, with brothers Chady and Fady Aoun (79) stuffing the run