University 2nd Grade 7 – 52 Shamrocks 2nd Grade
Round 16

Match Overview

Woonona Shamrocks 2nd Grade delivered a ruthless 52-7 demolition of University in a game transferred from the University of Wollongong to Ocean Park at the last moment due to heavy rain in the Illawarra. The Rocks bounced back from recent games with a performance that showcased exactly why they remain genuine finals contenders. Seven tries, six conversions, and a statement that firmly announced the Rocks are peaking at precisely the right moment in the season.

This was a great follow-up to last fortnight’s 73-10 massacre of Campbelltown, proving that performance wasn’t a one-off but rather the emergence of a team finding its mojo when it matters most. The contrast with the previous encounter against University – a 71-7 home victory in Round 7 – showed remarkable consistency in Shamrocks’ ability to dominate the competition’s strugglers.

Ben Ridgway emerged as the undisputed leader in this demolition job, delivering a performance that cements his place as leader in the points scored ladder. His two tries showcased the predatory instincts that have made him such a weapon this season, while his perfect six-from-six conversion rate contributed a massive 22 points to the total.

Ridgway’s dominance with the boot was nothing short of spectacular – maintaining his reputation as one of the most reliable marksmen in the competition. His ability to step up in big moments has become a defining feature of this Shamrocks side, and today’s display only reinforced why his leadership has been so crucial to the Second Grade campaign.

The Team Delivers in Style

Riley Spajic grabbed a double that demonstrated his finishing ability and positional awareness, with both tries coming from different situations that showcased his versatility in the attacking zone. Anthony Nicholson, Robbie Coso, and Bailie Leonard all crossed the line to contribute to what became a complete team performance.

The tactical substitutions throughout the match showed the depth and quality available within the squad, with the coaching staff able to manage game time while maintaining the intensity that has become their trademark in recent weeks.

Forward Platform Sets Foundation

While the backs grabbed the headlines, this victory was built on a forward pack performance that would have made the coaching staff purr with satisfaction. The set-piece dominance was evident in the statistics, with Shamrocks winning 52 scrums to University’s 7 – a telling indicator of territorial control and possession.

This forward foundation allowed the backline to unleash the attacking raids that have become a feature of their recent purple patch, following on from the patterns established in their 38-0 shutout victory against Tech Waratahs.

Season Context and Finals Push

This performance keeps Shamrocks firmly entrenched in fourth position on the ladder with 45 points, maintaining their buffer over Camden in fifth while staying within striking distance of the top three. With finals spots at stake, performances like this send a clear message that the Rocks are hitting their straps at exactly the right time.

The consistency shown against weaker opposition has been impressive – the 71-7 victory over University in Round 7, the 38-0 shutout of Tech Waratahs, and now this 52-7 demolition all demonstrate a team that knows how to put away struggling sides comprehensively.

What’s particularly encouraging is how this result follows the pattern established in their recent form. The narrow defeats to quality opposition like Kiama and Bowral, combined with dominant victories over teams they’re expected to beat, suggests a squad that understands its role in the competition hierarchy while still capable of upsetting higher-ranked teams.

With the business end of the season approaching, Shamrocks have found the perfect balance between individual brilliance and collective execution. The combination of Ridgway’s goal-kicking accuracy, the forward pack’s set-piece dominance, and a backline that’s clicking at crucial moments suggests this team could be genuinely dangerous in the finals.

On a day when the weather tried to dominate the play, Thom Davis, Corey Chinnock-Clark and Killian O’Leary all shared the B&F points but this would have been a hard decision for the Scorers as this team is really working well.