Sydney University have claimed the Australian Club Championship for the first time since 2014, with a hard fought 28-8 win over University of Queensland in wet conditions in Sydney.
Sydney University came into the game as favourites, but had been forced to rest several of their players due to the onset of coronavirus. UQ were, by comparison, arriving with a squad of exciting club and NRC level talent, looking to reclaim the club championship for the first time since 2011.
However, in front of the University faithful on a wet afternoon, Sydney University wore down the Hospital Challenge Cup winners.
The first quarter of a match saw both sides trade early blows, with Sydney weathering the pressure UQ heaped on them and replying with a try, going out to an early 7-3 lead. They soon extended their lead with a second try before halftime, going to the break 14-3.
Despite this however, the score was not reflective of a quality match up of attrition, with University of Queensland asking plenty of questions of the Shute Shield champions.
The match resumed in a similar fashion after the break, with slippery playing conditions making a fast-paced game difficult.
However, Rob Taylor’s men worked to the conditions, playing on the style that saw them beat Warringah in the final last year, with the match turning into an old school grind. The result saw Sydney University pick up two more tries to push the score out further.
University of Queensland managed to close the deficit with a try of their own, however they were unable to trouble the scorers any further, and the sending of captain Sam Wallis to the bin for a high tackle on the stroke of full time sealed their fate.
The win sees Sydney Uni win their fifth club championship title, and bodes well for the club faithful who will now expect big things from their team as they look to win their third straight Shute Shield in 2020.
University of Queensland will return to Brisbane to attempt to successfully defend their Hospital Challenge Cup crown, which if achieved, will be their third title in the past four seasons.
Shute Shield round one kicks off in Sydney on April 4, while the 2020 Queensland Premier Grade season begins March 21.
RESULT
Sydney University 28
UQ 8
