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Beasts aim to break 38-year drought
Jamie Pandaram
Saturday, July 28, 2007
A squad of 22 men today will carve out their own piece of history when they win the Shute Shield grand final. It will be a victory likely to gain importance as the years pass, etched in the memories of those who stand tallest at the end of the last 80 minutes of the season.
Men like Steve Bartrop can attest to that. Bartrop, the president of Eastern Suburbs Rugby Club, first played for the club, in second grade, in 1969 - the year Easts won the first-, second- and third-grade premierships. The club has not won the first grade title since.
Thirty-eight years on, and Bartrop is certain that the drought will end this afternoon at the Sydney Football Stadium against tournament behemoth Sydney University.
"I always said that we would beat Uni once this year, and it hasn't happened yet, so everything is on track," Bartrop said.
So far this season, University has defeated Easts 16-11 in round 11 and 22-6 in the qualifying final. A third win would seal their third straight title.
The envy of all the other clubs, University's roster consists of those who have made the big time and those who eventually will. Sitting on their bench today will be Wallabies World Cup shadow squad member Al Campbell and Australia A star Jone Tawake.
If rivals feel the Students strut around like they own the crown, they're probably right. After all, it was University who donated the Shute Shield to the NSW Rugby Union in 1923, having created it in honour of one of their own.
Robert Elliott Shute, a prop for University's first XV, died on the field playing for NSW on June 6, 1922. Shute was 23 at the time, and had served as an infantryman in the 30th Battery AIF during World War I.
Before they run out for battle today, the club's modern-day soldiers may be reminded of that historical link. But University's general manager, Ray Dearlove, said talk of ownership of the title was inaccurate. "We would like to say we feel some ownership over it but that would be presumptuous. The players approach this with a fair degree of humility," Dearlove said.
"For us, this game is huge. The fact that we have been there the last couple of years is nice, but totally irrelevant when the whistle blows.
"It's 10 years since Sydney Uni was almost relegated to the second division. There was an awful lot of work done in the back office to ensure that didn't happen."
The match will feature some interesting duels that, collectively, will decide the outcome. First, University's risky decision to hand young Fijian prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa a first-grade debut in the grand final - against hardened Beasts veteran Heamani Levaka - will be either a masterstroke or an error in judgement.
Easts' scrum dominated University's in both their games this year despite deficiencies in other areas of their game. Breakaway David Dennis played one of his finest matches for the Students a fortnight ago, and his encounter against representative star Adam Wallace-Harrison will be a highlight, as will the battle between the two No.8s and captains, Tim Davidson and Tom Egan.
At halfback, the super quick Luke Burgess has shredded all opposition defences this season, while his University counterpart, Nick Haydon, has been a consistently solid performer.
At the back, Easts' attacking dangerman Gavin Debartolo - as difficult to read as a doctor's scribble - lines up against experienced star Daniel Halangahu.
"I think our defence is probably the key," Davidson said. "We need to stop their momentum players, guys like Burgess and Debartolo, with our defence, not allow them to gain any ascendancy."
Easts have relied on a mighty scrum and attacking flair this year, and they have shown tremendous spirit to forge a successful season on the back of strong personal relationships between all the players.
"This is the best starting 15 I have seen us put out for 20 or 30 years," Bartrop said. "We have always been competitive, and had highlights."
One of those highlights was Easts' Shute Shield victory in 2003 - when the competition was a secondary title to the Tooheys New Cup. But now that the Shute Shield is the sole premier club competition, that win four seasons ago would pale in comparison to a triumph today.
Captains Share Their Thoughts on Grand Final Eve
Friday, 27 July 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
Tooheys New Shute Shield captains Tim Davidson and Tom Egan have opened up ahead of Saturday's Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The two number eights agree that opportunities will be few and far between as 2007's top two sides do battle for the time honoured Shute Shield trophy.
Uni captain Davidson, who has led the Students to victory in the last two Premier Rugby Grand Finals and also to two wins over the Beasts this season, says living in the moment and not past glories will help his side on Saturday.
"Who won what during the season means nothing," Davidson said.
"Grand Finals come down to who makes the most of their opportunities on the day.
"There's not too much between the two teams, both have excellent defences and whoever takes the opportunities the best will win."
Easts skipper Egan - himself a former Sydney University Grand Final winner - said his side is primed for the battle ahead after last weekend's 41-12 preliminary final demolition of Warringah.
"For a team like us this means everything," said Egan, who will lead the club in its attempt to win its first First Grade Grand Final since 1969.
"We always said coming into the finals that we needed a good 80 minute performance on the board and we got that against Warringah.
"We just went back to basics and did what we've been doing week in week out, which is essentially what we'll be doing again this week.
"We played pretty badly the weekend before so it was important to hit back and do it well."
Davidson says while there is benefit to be gained from analysing their opponents, the Students have instead shifted their focus inwards since victory in the qualifying final a fortnight ago.
"We've been trying to focus on getting our game right rather than watching the opposition too much," Davidson said.
"That said they've got a number of dangerous players that we'll have to keep a close eye on.
"Luke Burgess has been in outstanding form and Gavin Debartolo can break a game wide open at any time.
"With that kind of unpredictability in the backline, you don't know what to expect until it happens.
"If we look after our game plan and execution the rest will fall into place."
Despite the undoubted class in their backline, Easts will once again look to their powerful forward pack as one way of laying the platform for victory.
Egan says one of the Beasts great strengths is their tight five, particularly in the front row.
"We're pretty lucky in that respect, we've got four or five blokes who can play prop in first grade," he said.
"That kind of depth, coupled with the experience of Heamani (Levaka) at tighthead, puts us on a great position."
Davidson said Uni's ability to work their way out of sticky situations - such as those encountered against Easts and Randwick in the round matches, where the Students fought back from early deficits - would be a confidence booster on Saturday.
"We've got a young side and it's good for the younger guys to know that sticking to a game plan no matter what has its rewards," he said.
"Finals games are tight and a grind and if you know that you can stick it out it certainly gives you confidence."
For Egan, the key to victory is simple.
"If you make a mistake against a team like Uni you know you're going to pay dearly," he said.
"We made two or three mistakes against them in the qualifying final and they scored off each.
"This game will be won and lost in the last ten - whoever makes the most mistakes will lose."
Students & Beasties Name Their Grand Final Sides
Thursday, 26 July 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
Sydney University and Eastern Suburbs have finalised their squads ahead of Saturday's Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Students have provided the shock selection ahead of match day, naming first grade debutant Jerry Yanuyanutawa at loose head prop.
Yanuyanutawa has the unenviable task of taking on Easts giant and former Tongan representative Heamani Levaka, who has been at his damaging best for the Beasts on their march to the Grand Final.
But it will be the battle of the backlines that could prove the key to victory, with both back divisions in top form.
For Uni, wings Peter Playford and Alfi Mafi can finish with the best of them while centres Tom Carter and Lachlan Mitchell have the requisite pace and bulk to cause headaches.
Easts however will be more than up to the task, with the tough tackling form of former Australian U19 captain Anthony Faingaa marking up on Carter while scrumhalf Luke Burgess, fullback Gavin Debartolo, and wings Junior Puroku and Anton La Vin all impressing over the course of the season.
The Students hold the upper hand coming into the match, having won both encounters against the Beasties this season, however the manner of Easts victory over Warringah last weekend will no doubt have Uni looking over its shoulder.
The 41-12 victory was as emphatic as it was brutal, with Easts running in 34 points before the Rats got on the board.
The eventual six tries to two win was just the boost Easts needed after their disappointing 22-6 qualifying final loss to the Students two weeks ago.
The Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final will kick off at 3.10pm on Saturday, with live coverage on ABC TV starting at 3pm.
The match will be preceded by the Tooheys New Plate decider between Manly and Gordon, kicking off at 12.45pm.
Meantime, a number of events are planned for the Moore Park area on Grand Final day.
Fans are asked to take public transport where possible, with traffic expected to be heavy after the match due to the Sydney Swans v Richmond match taking place at the SCG on Saturday night.
Also, there is expected to be traffic across the day with the annual Sexpo exhibition being held at the Entertainment Quarter.(Now we know where Happy has really gone
TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD GRAND FINAL & PLATE FINAL TEAMS
Sydney Football Stadium, Saturday 28 July, 2007
TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD FINAL
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY v EASTERN SUBURBS (ABC TV GAME), 3.10pm
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY:
1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
2. Daniel Lewinski
3. Laurie Weeks
4. Dean Mumm S14
5. Will Caldwell S14
6. David Dennis S14
7. David Haydon
8. Tim Davidson (C) S14
9. Nick Haydon
10. Dan Kelly
11. Peter Playford S14
12. Tom Carter S14
13. Lachlan Mitchell
14. Alfi Mafi S14 Squad
15. Daniel Halangahu S14
EASTERN SUBURBS:
1. Aaron Tawera
2. Saia Faingaa S14
3. Heamani Levaka
4. Matt McGann
5. Adam Byrnes
6. Adam Wallace-Harrison S14 (WA)
7. Richard Stanford S14
8. Tom Egan (C)
9. Luke Burgess S14
10. Trevor Byles
11. Anton La Vin
12. Anthony Faingaa S14
13. Tom Azar
14. Junior Puroku
15. Gavin Debartolo Ex S14
Referee: Ian Smith
TOOHEYS NEW PLATE FINAL
MANLY v GORDON, 12.45pm
MANLY:
1. Reuben Bijl
2. Josh Mann-Rea
3. James Lakepa
4. Adam Smith
5. Bruce Rauqe
6. Heath Kiely
7. Chris Cottee
8. Marlon Solofuti
9. Josh Valentine S14
10. Dave Collis (Those in the know, is this the WA David Collis?)
11. Lupeni Siale
12. Sam Harris S14
13. Chris Siale S14
14. Luke Johnson
15. Peter Hewat S14
GORDON:
1. Ofa Fainga'anuku
2. Alex Gluth
3. Michael Schmidt
4. Tom Games
5. Ed Gower
6. Viliame Ratu
7. Craig Thomas
8. Vili Napa'a
9. Vinnie Byrne
10. Dave Harvey
11. Greg Wade
12. Billy Rainima
13. Josh Whittaker
14. Donny Nepia
15. Mark Preston
Referee: Nathan Pearce
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