Past Matches: 2019 Henderson Shield Grand Final
Third Grade Head Coach Tony Dempsey took his side to the Finals series for 2019 with a 5th place finish during the regular season (11 wins, 5 loses 1 draw). This was a team mixed with experience but also one with players having minimal Finals experience. It was knock-out rugby every week and the Coach would need to manage the changes this brings.
Week 1 saw the side take on 2nd placed Randwick at TG Milner and in a strong fashion, the Gordon side prevailed with a great platform laid for the campaign.
Confidence was high for the Week 2 clash against 3rd placed Warringah at North Sydney Oval just six days later. This is a nail-biter that ebbed and flowed across the match. A solid forwards display and crucial goal kicking from Kyle Brown saw the Highlanders victorious 17 to 13.
Bankwest Stadium at Parramatta on a warm Saturday morning was the scene for the 3rd Grade Henderson Shield decider against the minor Premiers in Sydney University who had teams in all Grades Grand Finals that day. Coach Tony Dempsey named a strong side and had kept consistency across the Finals series.
A 37m penalty goal by University after the halftime siren saw Gordon trail 7 to 18 at the drinks break. A sole Penalty try the only points available to the Highlanders in the 1st half.
A points feast was produced by the Gordon men in the 2nd half with a try to Lewis Skinner, another Penalty try and the final try to Brett Van Zyl followed by the conversion from Kyle Brown and the side had a 26 to 18 point lead with 13 minutes remaining. A late converted try to University saw the gap narrow to 26 – 25 but rugged defence and smart play saw the fulltime score unchanged.
