Sydney Uni American Football Club

It is one of the fiercest and strangest rivalries in the NSWGFL.

Sydney University and their neighbours UTS have been battling for wins, bragging rights and championships for years. Though in their long shared history, UTS – be they the Gators, Eagles, Lizards or simply UTS Gridiron – have never…ever beaten the Lions. The Gators have played in four of the last five Waratah Bowls, and have pushed Sydney Uni to the brink a number of times in that period.

The Lions' defence had a dominant afternoon

Saturday afternoon was not one of those times.

In a resounding display of skill, power, determination and teamwork the Lions defeated the Gators in the latest instalment of the Sydney derby 72 points to 14. On a day where the Lions defence forced 6 turnovers and the Lions offense scored 9 touchdowns, the defending champs made a clear statement to the rest of the league that when at their best, Sydney University can play extremely dominant football.

Liam Erby gashed UTS all afternoon

Head coach Stephen Dunne has always preached two things to his offenses; start fast and execute. And he could not have been happier with how his O began the day when it took only five plays to breach the Gator’s defense. A healthy mix of run and pass culminated with a terrific catch and run by wide receiver Sam Darcy, who scooted into the endzone to take the lead. The Lions offense was equally clinical on its second drive. Passes from Kiernan Dorney to receivers Darcy and Mac Shine loosened up the UTS defense and Liam Erby took full advantage, as he charged across the goal line to double the Lions lead.

Sam Darcy was dangerous with the ball in hand

What Uni’s offense was showing in ruthless efficiency, the defense matched in ferocity. Snuffing out the Gator’s first possession with two tackles behind the line of scrimmage, they upped the ante and forced a turnover on drive number two. Linebacker Greg Wernecke swooped on a loose ball and gave the Uni offense a short field on which to drive.

Despite the hot start by Sydney University, the Gators settled their nerves and put together an impressive drive to see out the first quarter and halve the deficit.

Uni looked likely to strike right back when Erby broke off a 51 yard run and carried the ball inside the UTS ten. However, the drive would stall on a failed fourth down conversion on the 3 yard line. It was a stop that stole momentum and after a slow start, UTS had the ball and a chance to equalise.

That chance was snuffed out when, under the watchful eye of defensive coordinator Ryan Wonser, defensive captains Joe Lim and Leigh Louey Gung both made tackles for a loss and forced a punt.

The offense was once again on the move. Bubble screens to Harry Granger and Danny Kelen moved the chains and more tough running from Erby brought the ball inside the 5. This time they would convert, as Hugh Tompkins stretched out the ball to break the plain on an inside carry.

After great kick coverage, Sydney Uni forced UTS to start their next drive at their own 8 yard line. A wayward snap and pressure from the edge lead to Gators QB Simon Irrgang being caught in the endzone for a safety. The pressure had been applied by Mathieu Bertrand and Greg Wernecke, with Wernecke falling on the quarterback to make the tackle. With the two points the psychological edge well and truly belonged to the Lions.

Liam Erby was successful both inside and outside against a dominated UTS defence

With only minutes remaining until halftime, Uni’s offense sped up with the help of some of their young game-breakers. Dorney first found Harry Granger – who remarkably held onto the pass after being clobbered by a UTS safety – for 21 yards down the sideline, and then the fleet-footed Tompkins scampered 46 yards for the score. Tompkins’ run was made possible by the typically brilliant blocking of the Lions offensive line.

With the defense once again holding strong, the Lions went to the break with a 30 – 7 lead.

Third quarters have been big for Sydney University of late, and Saturday was no exception.

Taking the kickoff the Lions offense gave the ball time and time again to Erby who rumbled to the UTS 34 on his way to a 117 rushing yard performance. From there Dorney once again hit Darcy on a screen and the receiver followed excellent down-field blocking and slipped past the Gator defenders like a nomadic pick-pocket, on his way to the endzone.

With the score getting out of hand, UTS needed points quickly and promptly went to the air. However, just two plays into their drive, all hope was snatched away as Louey-Gung snared an errant Ergang pass and followed his own convoy in for a touchdown. The return gave Louey the Lions career record for intercept returns for a touchdown, and simultaneously dashed any real chance of a UTS victory.

Louey-Gung takes the interception to the house to secure a Lions' record

Things could have gotten worse for the Gators when they again turned the ball over on the following drive. However, the Lions offense was unable to take advantage of the great field position provided by Bertrand’s fumble recovery. They would soon have the chance to make amends, when Chady Aoun recovered another forced fumble and returned possession to the Lions.

Tompkins added runs of 25 and 18 yards to his eventual total of 123 for the day, and Dorney cashed in the drive as he carried in the ball from 8 yards out. The Lions had put 50 points on their arch rivals, but showed no sign of letting up.

Aaron Carbury and James Gifford were mobile and violent despite the heat.

A 12 play drive by UTS saw out the third quarter, but two pass break-ups by cornerback Kevin Trinh – one on 4th down – halted the Gators drive.

With possession once again – and a new backfield of Kelen and Alex Watson – the Lions kept rolling. The two backs alternated carries with Kelen crashing over the goal line from 3 yards out for the score.

Bertrand made yet another play on the following drive, stepping in front of a UTS pass and grabbing an interception. And Uni should have added more points but the offense was unable to convert from inside the Gators 10 yard line.

Bertrand was enthusiastic in his interception returns

This time they were made to pay, as on the next possession a Gators receiver snuck behind the Lions defensive backfield, latched onto a pass, and ran to the endzone for a 76 yard TD.

Not to be outdone, Sydney Uni hit back with a big play of their own. Kelen found a wide open Harry Granger downfield, and the receiver capped a sparkling 6 catch, 127 yard day, as he sped 51 yards for a well-deserved score.

Harry Granger couldn't be caught. He had 127 yards receiving in a monster day.

The afternoon’s action was not quite done. The Gators continued to throw the ball, and Mathieu Bertrand continued to intercept it. The French-Canadian’s third turnover of the day saw him duck, weave and go sideline to sideline on an entertaining, time-consuming 8 yard return. The play was indicative of the passion Bertrand had shown all afternoon, as he played the entire game with the intensity of a man who’d been insulted in a nightclub.

Bertrand owned the UTS QB for the entire game

The Sydney University offense would add one more touchdown. Alex Watson barrelled over the line, adding the exclamation point to a day of ground game supremacy. With the line of Lawrence, Carbury, Gifford, Allen and Thode – whose performance was particularly dominant – clearing the way, the Lions ran for well over 300 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Marc Biedenkapp’s tenth extra point of the afternoon made the score 72 – 14 and gave Sydney University its highest points output of the season so far.

It was a sweet victory over a bitter rival, one which neither side will soon forget.