Uni survive spirited Shamrocks
Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2025 5:25 am
In an exciting, entertaining Minor Semi Final at Vikings Oval, University survived a spirited Shamrocks side to win 26 points to12 and remain alive in the 2013 Illawarra Builders Club Premiership. The injury depleted young Shamrocks side refused to lay down against their more experienced opponents. In a sometime spiteful match in which 3 players spent time in the Sin Bin and several others were lucky not to join them, rookie Referee James Penman had his hands full keeping the player’s minds on playing football. But play football they did entertaining another large semi-final crowd.
With both sides employing similar tactics early, play moved from end of the field to the other but neither side could create a scoring opportunity. After 10 minutes Shamrocks veteran Josh Woodford was the first to receive a yellow card for a lifting tackle and the Bulls pressed for the advantage. After a long period of attacking the Shamrocks phone number list the Bulls finally created an overlap for winger Jack Shaw to score wide out. Halfback Alex Sims missed the conversion but added a penalty goal a few minutes later for the Bulls to lead 8 nil after 20 minutes. Shamrocks had the best of the remainder of the first half and on the back of a series of penalties spent long periods of time deep in the Uni half. After failing with a couple of penalty goal attempts Shamrocks were next to score after their forwards trademark pick and drive game created space for Rhys Peters to take advantage and score for the halftime score of Uni 8, Shamrocks 5.
The Rocks started the second half in spectacular style, regaining the ball from their kick off. After another pick and drive effort for 40 meters. No.8 Frank Roberts powered over with the second half just 1 minute old. With the try converted by Allyd Owen, Shamrocks were in the lead 12-8.
From the kick off Uni flanker Will Norrie was yellow carded after taking out a Shamrocks player without the ball. Despite being one man down it was Uni who scored next when front rower Karl Smith forced his way through the Shamies defence close to posts. With the try converted by Alex Sims, Uni were back in front by 3.
Unis’ third try came 10 minutes later from deep inside their own half as they slowly took control of the match. One of the Bulls best Andrew Lindsay took the ball from the back of a scrum in their own quarter and charged up the right side of the field before finding stalwart fullback Justin Placek in support. Placek showed all his experience producing an outstanding run down the line beating several defenders to score in the corner. With the try unconverted the Bulls were now out by 8 and the Shamrocks players responded to their supporter’s encouragement and raised a spirited response. Driving play deep into Uni territory the rocks put plenty of effort into their play with tensions between the sides reaching boiling point. Referee Penman worked hard to control the match full for a period and eventually showed Shamrocks flanker Daniel Pora a yellow card with 15 minutes remaining. Alex Sims kicked a goal from the resulting penalty and Unis’ lead was now 23 to 12. A further penalty goal to Ash Mason brought up the final score for Uni to go through to next weeks final against Minor Premiers Avondale.
Andrew Lindsay was a standout for the bulls with halfback Alex Sims busy in both attack and defence. Shamrocks effort can be one to be proud of, considering their injury toll, with the effort of their younger players showing that the clubs future is assured.
With both sides employing similar tactics early, play moved from end of the field to the other but neither side could create a scoring opportunity. After 10 minutes Shamrocks veteran Josh Woodford was the first to receive a yellow card for a lifting tackle and the Bulls pressed for the advantage. After a long period of attacking the Shamrocks phone number list the Bulls finally created an overlap for winger Jack Shaw to score wide out. Halfback Alex Sims missed the conversion but added a penalty goal a few minutes later for the Bulls to lead 8 nil after 20 minutes. Shamrocks had the best of the remainder of the first half and on the back of a series of penalties spent long periods of time deep in the Uni half. After failing with a couple of penalty goal attempts Shamrocks were next to score after their forwards trademark pick and drive game created space for Rhys Peters to take advantage and score for the halftime score of Uni 8, Shamrocks 5.
The Rocks started the second half in spectacular style, regaining the ball from their kick off. After another pick and drive effort for 40 meters. No.8 Frank Roberts powered over with the second half just 1 minute old. With the try converted by Allyd Owen, Shamrocks were in the lead 12-8.
From the kick off Uni flanker Will Norrie was yellow carded after taking out a Shamrocks player without the ball. Despite being one man down it was Uni who scored next when front rower Karl Smith forced his way through the Shamies defence close to posts. With the try converted by Alex Sims, Uni were back in front by 3.
Unis’ third try came 10 minutes later from deep inside their own half as they slowly took control of the match. One of the Bulls best Andrew Lindsay took the ball from the back of a scrum in their own quarter and charged up the right side of the field before finding stalwart fullback Justin Placek in support. Placek showed all his experience producing an outstanding run down the line beating several defenders to score in the corner. With the try unconverted the Bulls were now out by 8 and the Shamrocks players responded to their supporter’s encouragement and raised a spirited response. Driving play deep into Uni territory the rocks put plenty of effort into their play with tensions between the sides reaching boiling point. Referee Penman worked hard to control the match full for a period and eventually showed Shamrocks flanker Daniel Pora a yellow card with 15 minutes remaining. Alex Sims kicked a goal from the resulting penalty and Unis’ lead was now 23 to 12. A further penalty goal to Ash Mason brought up the final score for Uni to go through to next weeks final against Minor Premiers Avondale.
Andrew Lindsay was a standout for the bulls with halfback Alex Sims busy in both attack and defence. Shamrocks effort can be one to be proud of, considering their injury toll, with the effort of their younger players showing that the clubs future is assured.