Sydney Uni American Football Club

In a match-up between the NSWGFL’s oldest team and the most recent addition to the league, age and experience won out as the Sydney University Lions defeated the Central Coast Sharks 64 – 0.

The Lions' D kept the Sharks to 4 total yards rushing

Played in sweltering conditions, The Institute looked to be on their way to a comfortable – if unspectacular – victory when, midway through the second quarter, an explosion of defensive touchdowns blew the game open.

The match started as so many do; Uni kicked off and the defense held strong. Joe Lim led the charge from middle linebacker and the Sharks were forced to punt. The offense took over and powerful running from Liam Erby was balanced with efficient passing from Kiernan Dorney, and a successful drive finished with an Erby touchdown.

Erby averaged almost 10 yards per carry

Central Coast was again held in check on the following drive, and fantastic pressure on the punter forced a poor kick and gave the Lions great field position. It was not wasted.  Only a few plays into the next drive, Dorney found Daniel Kelen on a crossing route and the receiver turned up field to find his path to the endzone unimpeded. The touchdown and the Alex Watson 2 point conversion made the score 16 – 0 and the Sharks, under the hot Cranebrook sun, were already looking fatigued.

Dorney to Kelen was a hookup that went all the way

They would get no relief on their next possession. Having been stuffed time and time again by Lim, Mick Rigney,  The Aoun Brothers, and Nick Olive, the Sharks took to the air with equally poor results. Lions cornerback Andy Eisold lept into the air and added another interception to his impressive haul this season.

The second most photogenic player on the team; Andy Eisold takes another pick

The Sydney University offense took the ball and, as the second quarter began, they were rolling again. Behind the punishing pancakes of Lions tackle Dave Thode, Erby was once again able to carry the ball towards the endzone. On 2nd and goal, Dorney handed the ball to Erby for the third score of the day and a 22 – 0 lead. Amazingly by the time Dorney would touch the ball again, it would be the second half and the score had been doubled.

The run game averaged almost 10 yards per carry behind a strong offensive line

The Lions defense was as stifling as the weather, as tackles by Jamie “JLo” Lopez and Lim forced another punt. The beautiful arching kick landed in the waiting arms of Peder Jungstedt and the swift Swede did not waste the chance to return. Brushing away two would-be tacklers, Jungstedt weaved his way through the broken field and had just enough strength left in his legs to beat the final defender and dive into the endzone.

Jungstedt was too big and too fast

The D was putting points on the board again when, on the ensuing drive, Mathieu Bertrandsnared a pass in the flats and sprinted into the endzone. After the conversion and the kick-off, the Sharks next offensive play was a case of (as they say in French-Canadia) de ja vu. Again the ball was lobbed to the flats, again Bertrand got a hold of it and again he eluded tacklers while he charged in for his second score. With his two interceptions, Bertrand was actually the leading receiver for the Sharks on the day, who only completed a single pass to a player in an orange jersey, compared to Bertrand’s two.

Sharks' leading receiver Bertrand going in for the score.

The half couldn’t come soon enough for the reeling Sharks, the main break giving them a brief respite from what had been a clinical first half performance by the Lions.

Despite the heat, Carbs and Erby continued to practice their dance routine on the sideline. Dedication.

The reigning champs were no less ruthless in attack or defense in the second half. With the score out of hand, a fast clock was put into action, but there was still time for Dorney to add two more touchdown passes and a rushing score of his own. His first of the half was a bomb to Marc Biedenkapp, a catch that gave the receiver 7 catches for 5 touchdowns and 1 2pt conversion in two games at Cranebrook this season. Dorney’s third and final touchdown pass saw receiver Harry Granger make up for running the wrong route by slipping out of tackles, stepping past defenders and cantering into the endzone.

The King of Cranebrook, Marc streaking away for another score

The Lions defense gave up nothing in the second half. Great performances by every member of the front six ensured the shut out – especially defensive captain Lim who finished the game with four tackles for a loss.

Panda Lim, feasting in the backfield

Despite the crushing defeat, all credit must go to the heart and determination of the Sharks players who, being vastly outnumbered, battled valiantly for four quarters. The Lions move to a perfect 8 and 0 on the season, and can now focus on their Week 10 clash with the playoff bound, fourth placed Northwestern Predators.

Snape was a whirlwind of unstoppable, pro-speed midget power