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Uni win six straight Sydney premierships

2nd October, 2010
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Wallabies back Berrick Barnes overcame nerves and some midweek kicking wobbles to lead Sydney University to a record-equalling sixth straight Sydney club rugby premiership on Saturday.

Barnes racked up a 26-point haul in the 46-6 grand final win over Randwick at Concord Oval.

The University five-eighth scored one of his team’s five tries, kicked three conversions and five penalties.

It was a 13th straight win for University, who rocketed up the table from ninth to fourth after regaining many of their representative players.

The six straight titles equalled Randwick’s run from 1987 to 1992 and it was University’s 27th premiership, putting them one behind Randwick’s record.

Captain and No.8 Tim Davidson and Wallabies lock Dean Mumm are the only University players to have appeared in all six grand finals.

The students clearly won the forward battle and outpointed Randwick at the breakdown.

The Galloping Greens were pressured into conceding numerous penalties in their own half and were punished by Barnes, whose sole miss in nine attempts struck a post.

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“I came out here on Wednesday and had a kick and struggled a fair bit with the wind and the goalposts, I was happy today,” Barnes told AAP.

“We grind out sides and take our points and just build the score, we’ve done that the last three weeks to our credit.

“Randwick were depleted without a number of key players that hurt them … in saying that it was a tough first half.

“Kingaroy Red Ants rugby league under 11s, that’s the last time I won a grand final, but I haven’t played too many, so I really looked forward to this.

“It’s been a long while between drinks and I was so nervous last night.”

Centre Tom Carter scored the only try of the first half, which ended with University holding a 16-6 advantage.

The students also included Wallabies back Julian Huxley, who capped off a successful comeback season following two years out with a brain tumour and who was playing for the first time in six weeks following a groin injury.

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Winger Alfi Mafi and Barnes added further tries before Barnes was replaced with 15 minutes to go, with his team holding a commanding 36-6 lead.

Winger Peter Betham and Test backrower Ben McCalman notched late tries to complete a dominant University performance.

A Randwick side missing several stars, including Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom and Test winger Drew Mitchell, went close to scoring a try in the second minute through hooker John Fonokalafi, but created few other opportunities.

“The boys dug in and the effort was always there but Uni played exceptional,” said Randwick’s Wallabies fullback Kurtley Beale, who pulled off at least three try-saving tackles.

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