--- title: Georgie's Match Report - Rnd 4 description: Gordon Rugby. Shute Shield. Highlanders image: https://gordonrugby.com.au/hubfs/DSC_8787.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://gordonrugby.com.au/highlander_news/georgie-rnd4#main-content) [![](https://gordonrugby.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Highlanders%20800x800.png?width=800&height=600&name=Highlanders%20800x800.png)](https://gordonrugby.com.au/) [![](https://gordonrugby.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Highlanders%20800x800.png?width=800&height=600&name=Highlanders%20800x800.png)](https://gordonrugby.com.au/) - [MEMBERSHIPS](https://gordonrugby.com.au/memberships) - [FIXTURES](https://gordonrugby.com.au/fixtures) - [News](https://gordonrugby.com.au/highlander_news) - Our Community - [EVENTS](https://gordonrugby.com.au/events) - [Club Partners](https://gordonrugby.com.au/club-partners) - [Juniors](https://gordonrugby.com.au/juniors) - [Volunteers](https://gordonrugby.com.au/governance-0) - [UTS Connection](https://gordonrugby.com.au/uts-connection) - [Somosomo Stags](https://gordonrugby.com.au/somosomo) - [Friends of Gordon](https://gordonrugby.com.au/fogs) - [Our Club](https://gordonrugby.com.au/club-board) - [Club Board](https://gordonrugby.com.au/club-board) - [History](https://gordonrugby.com.au/club-history) - [Governance](https://gordonrugby.com.au/governance) - [Contact Club](https://gordonrugby.com.au/contact_us) - [Make a Donation to the Foundation](https://gordonrugby.com.au/fogs) - [Merchandise](https://gordon-rugby-football-club-inc.square.site/) - [RAFFLES](https://www.raffletix.com.au/gordonrugby) - [CAREERS AND MENTORING](https://gordonrugby.com.au/careers) [CONTACT CLUB](https://gordonrugby.com.au/contact_us) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.     # Georgie's Match Report - Rnd 4 [Stags Rugby](https://gordonrugby.com.au/highlander_news/author/stags-rugby) May 1 2024 [Latest News](https://gordonrugby.com.au/highlander_news/tag/latest-news)   ## Georgie McHugh's Match Report - Round 4     A stunning day was the backdrop for Gordon hosting Sydney University at Chatswood Oval, for so long a second home game for many on Uni’s playing number, who grew up as State Championship winning Highlanders Juniors. It is a significant reason that this is such an important day for Gordon players and supporters. ![DSC_8798](https://gordonrugby.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/DSC_8798.jpg?width=2048&height=1365&name=DSC_8798.jpg) Following wins in all the lower grades and two wins and a draw in Colts, the pressure was on the 1 st XV to record a very rare feat of no losses against the Varsity. The task was made a little more difficult with Jay Fonokalafi called up again for Waratahs duty, such was his dominance against the Wildfires the week before. But it gave Cam Lewis a magnificent platform to show his wares. After the sides traded initial blows in midfield for the first five minutes, Uni won a penalty and drove deep to the Gordon 22 metre line, which ultimately led to the opening try. The Highlanders struck back on the back of some strong carries, which forced Uni to infringe. Ben Pollack kicked to the Trumper Pavilion corner for an attacking lineout five metres out. Lewis threw truly and organised the proceeding maul. Desperate Uni defence held Jack Margin up over the line under penalty advantage. Lewis repeated his actions at the ensuing lineout, before Harry Emery from the back of the maul found Barrie Karea running a line that froze Uni’s defence and the score was 7-5 with Pollack’s successful conversion. The visitors were soon again in attack and might have registered points as they broke down the right wing, but for Will Kaye’s fantastic work in the last line of defence that stopped the movement. A subsequent scrum penalty on Uni’s feed saw Gordon escape danger. The men in tartan endured more pressure in their own half before another scrum penalty in their favour and some backchat from the Uni front row saw Pollack again pump his kick to five metres out in the Trumper Pavilion corner. Another assured lineout secured the ball and the maul marched towards the line. But with Uni throwing everything they had into their defence, which tested the referee’s patience, it was skipper Milan Basson, back at number 8 this week, who crashed over and with a quarter of the game gone, Gordon led 12-5. ![DSC_8639-2](https://gordonrugby.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/DSC_8639-2.jpg?width=1879&height=2048&name=DSC_8639-2.jpg) An error from Gordon clearing their red zone saw Uni with a lineout 15 metres out, which ultimately saw the blue and yellow score in the scoreboard corner. The Highlanders, however, had the last say in the half with a very patient phase of play following another penalty that saw Pollack drive the ball deep into the Uni half. Under desperate defence from Uni and again under penalty advantage Emery on his haunches flicked a back hand ball to Pollack, who attacked the line at speed before putting Lewis over for a very well-deserved try under the posts. Gordon went to the sheds in front 19-10. In the first minute after the kick off, Uni seized on a dropped ball in the Gordon backline in a strong attacking position and in the blink of an eye the score was 19-17. Moments later Gordon was close to hitting back with one of their own through Oli Arcus, following a lovely sweeping backline move, only for the touch judge to call obstruction on the play. It was at this time coach Harry Fehily brought on his reinforcements with Joe Snow moving into halfback, while his starting props were replaced by Oli Hannan and second-year colt Henry Basten (son of former Club captain, Sandy) for his first-grade debut. Five minutes later, the Highlanders re-took the lead with another try to Basson from another attacking lineout five metres out. Uni were lucky not to concede a penalty try as they brought the rolling maul down a metre out and then infringed yet again before the skipper secured his second of the afternoon. The next 25 minutes remained an arm-wrestle with neither side able to get the ascendency until Uni found the line and added a penalty goal with six minutes remaining to take the score to 27-24 in their favour leaving the home fans more than a little nervous. With less than two minutes on the clock, replacement hooker Terence Fusi carried hard into contact in the middle of his own 40 metre line. Snow released Kaye to his left, who off loaded to a hard-running Kai Gudgeon. The outside centre, with his most consequential charge of the season so far, got in between two defenders around the halfway line, forcing Uni’s winger to come in off his line, before finding Quinn on his left. Quinn streaked towards the line, but still had the fullback to beat, as Arcus loomed up on his inside, having come from the opposite wing. Arcus pulled in a pass on the quarter line (which demonstrated why wingers are picked for their running and not their passing ability) to streak away under the sticks for the Gordon to regain the lead. Pollack waited for his full allotment of time to kick the conversion from directly in front to take the score outside a penalty kick to 31-27. And while the timer on Stan Sport had turned red as it passed the 80-minute mark, the referee’s time piece still showed that there was time for the restart. Gordon couldn’t regather the ball from the kick off and the home fans were nervous once again. With time up, Uni were awarded a penalty and kicked to ten metres from the try line. ![DSC_8855](https://gordonrugby.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/DSC_8855.jpg?width=2048&height=1041&name=DSC_8855.jpg) To complete the roller coaster of emotions that both sets of fans endured in the last five enthralling minutes Johnny Akauloa soared at number three to pluck the ball away from Uni. Snow smashed the ball high into the Trumper Stand to the ecstatic home fans who ironically cheered for the away team: Yoooooo-nay! Special mention must go to the visiting referee from the Hospital Cup in Brisbane. Many of the strong collisions from both sides may have been called as high tackles under the new draconian rules, but with no harm done, the players were allowed to play what was a great game of footy. ![DSC_8886](https://gordonrugby.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/DSC_8886.jpg?width=1972&height=2048&name=DSC_8886.jpg) The Highlanders travel to Manly this weekend to take on the Marlins, who will be out to make amends after being soundly beaten by their local rival’s last round. Get down to the ground to support your team. And it is certainly not too late to get a membership and join the Clan in 2024 in time for the next clash against Randwick on Ladies Day at Chatswood. Until the next time we meet, make mine a Grants. Up Gordon! Georgie McHugh **Not a member yet for Season 2024? 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