The Australian Universities Interstate Shield remains in NSW after the home state’s convincing 40-22 victory over Queensland in their annual clash held at North Sydney Oval on Saturday 22 May.

Despite heavy rain on the morning of the match the playing surface held up well but the damp conditions did have an impact in the opening stages, with both sides struggling to hold onto the ball.

The Maroons were able to adjust to the conditions more quickly, dominating the early exchanges and at the 7^th minute their hooker Tommy Butterfield scooted over near the posts for the first points of the match.

The Blues struggled for field position until at the 14^th minute when, against the run of play, their fullback Anthony Don accepted a perfectly timed pass from half Cameron Breust on the half way line, sliced through out wide and ran 40 metres before passing back to Breust who scored under the posts. Only minutes later a replay of the same combination handed Breust another try to put the Blues in front 12-6.

Stung by the quick turn around the Qld forwards answered the challenge and 10 minutes before the half time break back rower Darcy Wright charged up field, off loaded to five eight Geoff Holcombe who in turn put fullback Jarrod Biggs in the clear for a 30 metre run to the line. However, the hard work came undone at the re-start with the Maroons dropping the ball near their line, gifting it to the Blues and a few plays later dummy half Drew Dalton crashed over to put his side in front 22-12.

The Maroons bad luck continued when soon after a miss-kick on the 6^th tackle landed in Blues centre Mitch Seaton’s hands and he broke through the Qld line to run 50 metres to score. Right on half time smart short side play by Breust put winger Adam Hansen over in the corner and a sideline conversion by Breust gave the Blues a commanding 34-12 lead at the break.

The second half was an arm wrestle for the first 27 minutes with neither side giving ground. The Maroons pack gained extra starch with the inclusion of interchange front rower Martin Cordwell and the sting in the Qld defence was beginning to rattle the Blues. Cordwell’s strong running was rewarded when he strolled through a yawning Blues defence to score and give the visitors a glimmer of hope of making a comeback.

Those hopes were dashed at the 30^th minute when referee Sean Hampstead awarded the Blues a penalty within easy kicking range and Breust’s boot gave his side an unassailable 36-16 lead. But the Maroons never gave up and Butterfield, who had worked tirelessly around the ruck the whole game, crossed with just 4 minutes left on the clock.

Not to be outdone Don capped off an outstanding match from him when right on full time he collected the ball on his own line and ran the length of the field for a well deserved try.

Blues forwards Luke Young, Luke Muttdon and Simon Lakis played strongly and the big match experience of Dalton provided the impetus for the team’s surge late in the 1^st half. Don and Breust were outstanding in the backs and winger Hansen was involved in everything.

For the Maroons, hooker Butterfield was their danger man, back rowers Wright and Daniel Sleeman worked tirelessly and Cordwell made his presence felt when he came on. The Qld halves of Holcombe and Brenton Stonier were rock solid in defence and a danger with every touch of the ball whilst Biggs and centre Michael Comerford each played commanding attacking roles.

Man of the Match: Anthony Don

NSW Players’ Player: Luke Young

Qld Players’ Player: Tommy Butterfield

NSW Universities 40 (Cameron Breust 2, Drew Dalton, Mitch Seaton, Adam Hansen, Don tries, Cameron Breust 7 goals) defeated Qld Universities 22 (Tommy Butterfield 2,Jarrod Biggs, Martin Cordwell tries, Jarrod Biggs 3 goals)

NSW TEAM
1 - ANTHONY DON (Newcastle Uni)
2 - JOSHUA GOULTON (Uni of Wollongong)
3 - HILLAL KARA-ALI (UWS)
4 - MITCH SEATON (CSU Albury)
5 - ADAM HANSEN (UTS)
6 - MICHAEL GAVAN (Newcastle Uni)
7 - Cameron BREUST (Canberra Uni)
8 - LUKE YOUNG (UWS)
9 - GAVIN DUNCAN (ACPE)
10 - LUKE KELLEY (Australian Business Academy)
11 - LUKE MUTTDON (Uni of Wollongong)
12 - LEVI FREEMAN (Master Builders Assn Training Centre)
13 - SIMON LAKIS (ACPE)
15 - BLAKE JOHNSTON (UWS)
16 - KHALIL KOUAYDER (ACPE)
17 - IAN KWOK (Sydney Uni)
18 - KHAN SALAMALIKIS (Loftus TAFE)
23 - DREW DALTON (UWS)

COACH:            Brendon Reeves
ASST COACH:    Pierre Tannous

QUEENSLAND TEAM
1 - JARROD BIGGS (Queensland University of Technology)
2 - MATT SCHULZE (Queensland University of Technology)
3 - MAX DUDLEY (Queensland University of Technology)
4 - MICHAEL COMERFORD (Central Queensland University)
5 - MITCHELL CRONIN (Griffith University)
6 - GEOFF HOLCOMBE (Griffith University)
7 - BRENTON STONIER (Central Queensland University)
8 - ALAN KEMP (Griffith University)
9 - TOM BUTTERFIELD (University of the Sunshine Coast)
10 - REGINALD SAUNDERS (Griffith University)
11 - DRACY WRIGHT (Queensland University of Technology)
12 - JAKE LINGARD (University of the Sunshine Coast)
13 - DANIEL SLEEMAN (Griffith University)
14 - DANIEL MARZELLA (Griffith University)
15 - JARED HOARE (Central Queensland University)
16 - JAMES BOYCE (University of the Sunshine Coast)
17 - MARTIN CORDWELL (Queensland University of Technology)
18 - JONATHON STEWART (Queensland University of Technology)

COACH:                Darren Smith
ASST COACHES:    Joe O’Callaghan 
                          Paul Lowe

MATCH OFFICIALS
REFEREE:                 Sean Hampstead
TOUCH JUDGES:        Todd Smith 
                              Brendan Lucas
IN-GOAL JUDGES:      Frank Real 
                              Peter Crombie-Brown