Gutsy Uni break the drought
Illawarra Mercury
Monday March 28, 2011
WITH captain James Storer leading the way, University of Wollongong produced an enormous effort to win their first Illawarra Carlton League game when they downed Collegians 20-18 at University Oval yesterday.Storer and Mitch Rein, on loan from St George Illawarra, provided the spark and guidance in a match in which the Titans overcame the odds to win their first game since coming into the Carlton League last year.The Titans went through the 2009 season undefeated in VB Cup second division but were winless last year after being elevated to the Carlton League.After losing their halfback Laith Cunneen with a hip flexor injury in the warm up yesterday, the Titans then played almost the entire game one player down, after referee Ryan Jackson dismissed fullback Tomujani Koroi for allegedly tripping his opposite number, Ron Kissell, in the sixth minute.It was a win of heroic and monumental proportions for the Titans who reversed the result of the City of Wollongong Illawarra Rugby League Centenary Knockout at WIN Stadium three weeks ago."It was a really gutsy effort."The performance by the boys under the circumstances was fantastic," Titans coach Barry Broome said."The completion rate in the first half was up around 85 per cent which was pleasing in the conditions."At the end of the day to come home with that win was very gratifying and reinforces all the effort the guys have put in - all the players and the staff - in the off season."For Collies coach Scott Logan, it was a frustrating game."[I was] fairly disappointed after last week's effort [when Collies lost 24-12 to Berkeley in round one], looking forward to the boys coming out with renewed confidence and a bit more enthusiasm, but didn't get that and just had an error-riddled game, 21 errors throughout the match and a 47 per cent completion rate," Logan said.The Titans led 12-0 at half-time when Storer scored in the corner in the 10th minute, followed by a conversion by five-eighth Jackson Heenan, then Sam Belo crossed in the 26th minute and Heenan added the extras.It took Collies until midway through the second half to get on the scoreboard when centre Paul Kiely broke through and sent winger Sharlon Taki over between the posts for captain Jarryd Hogan to convert. Then, out of the blue, Collies hooker Josh Kent grabbed a one-on-one strip, bumped off a would-be defender and ran away to score between the posts for Hogan to equalise 12-12.The Titans regained the lead 18-12 in the 69th minute when a great cut-out pass from Rein put Belo over for his second try and Heenan kicked a beautiful conversion from near touch.Four minutes later a Heenan penalty goal gave the Titans an eight-point buffer, but Collies hit back with a converted try to George Peterson.With rain pouring and time ticking away, the Titans held on for a memorable victory.
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