Sydney University stole victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday when they overran a gallant Redland to win a thrilling NEAFL contest by nine points at Blacktown.
The Bombers led for most of the match before the lead changed four times in an epic last quarter, which saw the students come out on top 8.12 (60) to 7.9 (51).
With their season on the line, Redland made their intentions known from the opening bounce when Nick Weller and Blake Grewar combined for the first two goals.
The Bombers went into quarter-time 13 points clear as the students soon went up a gear, reducing the margin to seven within a minute of the second through Rising Star nominee Michael Manteit.
Redland were held goalless for the term as Sydney Uni booted 2.4 to hit the front by two point at half-time.
A pair of goals from Bombers forward James Rayner restored the lead for the Bombers deep into the third as they held on to a two-point lead at the last change to set the match up for a tense finish.
The students were first to strike through Lewis Stevenson as the two sides traded blows for the first 20 minutes of the quarter.
It took consecutive goals from Kany Murphy, followed by young gun Sam Fong at the 25-minute mark, to push the Students over the line.
They were led brilliantly by defender Tim Barton, Tom Ayton, Aaron Day, with midfielders Fong (20 disposals), Stevenson (25 disposals and seven clearances) and ruckman Spencer Krochmal also damaging.
Grewar was outstanding for the Bombers with 34 disposals, 10 clearances and five inside 50s. Rising Star nominees Hayden Bertoli-Simmonds (23 disposals) and Darcy Cameron-Reeves, plus defender Peter Yagmoor, Adrian Williams and ruckman Craig Malone were among their better players.
It was Sydney Uni’s first ever win over the Bombers in the competition, having lost by two points (2014), 10 (2015) and 24 (2016) in their only three encounters.
The students leaped into second place on the ladder by percentage with four rounds remaining.
The Bombers remain in seventh, but are now four points adrift of sixth spot after Southport’s win over Brisbane on Sunday.
They face eighth-placed Gold Coast in a must-win clash next Sunday to keep their finals hopes alive.
Sydney University v Redland
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 1.1 3.5 5.9 8.12 (60)
REDLAND 3.2 3.3 6.5 7.9 (51)
GOALS – Sydney University: K Murphy, D Bonney, T McCaffrey, M Vicic, S Fong, M Manteit, J Derickx, L Stevenson. Redland: J Rayner 2, B Grewar, N Weller, B Howard, C Malone, D Cameron-Reeves.
BEST – Sydney University: T Barton, T Ayton, A Day, S Fong, L Stevenson, S Krochmal. Redland: B Grewar, H Bertoli-Simmonds, D Cameron-Reeves, P Yagmoor, A Williams, C Malone.
