The LU RAMS Premier rugby team were able to claim two trophies in the weekend when they bet Sydenham 35-14 on Saturday at Lincoln University

At Lincoln: Lincoln University 35 (Sam Gilbert, Caleb Makene, Rameka Poihipi, Harrison Courtney tries; Poihipi 3 conv, 3 pen) beat Sydenham 14 (Judah Gawith, Jack Wakeling tries; Jack MacLeod conv, Wakeling conv). HT: 14-7. Referee: Carl Johnson.

Lincoln co-captains Ben Morris and Caleb Makene were “stoked” after the game to learn their team had won the 2018 Hawkins Cup competition with a round to play.

Lincoln’s bonus-point win over Sydenham put them six points clear of second-placed Sumner after The Wave beat Belfast only narrowly in a relatively low-scoring game.

“It’s a new experience for me,” said the 21-year-old Morris of his captain’s status. “It’s been a bit stressful with Caleb out injured (Makene missed two club games with a dislocated finger) but the new young boys are gelling well and have held their own, especially when we had a big crew away with NZU. We’re still building.”

Talking about young, the average age of the side is just 19. “People think I’m old,” said Morris.

“Awesome,” said Makene after the match. While not counting too many chickens at this stage, he’s looking forward to helping his side go all the way this season. And he’s no stranger to that scenario.

There was a touch of the awesome in the try Makene scored in combination with Ere Enari at the end of the first quarter. Makene darted in from the right wing as Enari broke on the openside of a ruck and held the ball up sweetly for his team-mate. With those two getting together like that Sydenham had no chance of preventing the try.

Enari left the field with a shoulder injury after 34min which was a pity because he was looking so sharp. But that brought Jack Stratton into the action and his poise and kicking skill were welcome because it was often a hard slog for the Rams against a Sydenham side which deservedly scored two converted tries and kept the heat on.

It was Lincoln’s ability to create game-breaking moments that won the day. Sam Gilbert opened the scoring for the Rams after 10min when crisp backline passing along the half way line created half a chance wide on the left. The fullback dummied to Jesse Houston, shot through the gap and found next to nothing in front of him. He went all the way.

Then came Makene’s try and Lincoln were 14-7 at the break. Early in the second half Rameka Poihipi, who Sydenham seemed to have covered, surged through a gap to score from 15m out. Poihipi missed the conversion but he has gone 11 from 12 in the last two weeks. That ain’t bad.

Seven minutes from the end, No.7 Connor Gordon made a brilliant break from 25m out and almost got there himself. As he was brought to ground, he flicked the ball to substitute prop Harrison Courtney for the try. Gordon is looking the goods as he emulates a former influential openside flanker for Lincoln, Wade McRae.

Dom Devine had a couple of minutes more than he might have anticipated when he had to come on again at the end because of injury. The loosehead prop had earlier made good carries and helped hold up a scrum which yielded only once to a concerted Sydenham shove.

No.8 John Borland got through a huge amount of work in short-range stuff, often having to field kickoffs and smash his way forward. Mitch Dunshea was also energetic, always looking for lineout steals, carrying like Borland, and making tackles all around the park.

It’s a minor mystery why Sydeham chose to give Moses Faletolu and Ray Nu’u half a game each at second-five when they could have been paired in midfield throughout. However Tahi Baggaley did some good things at centre. It was just as well for Lincoln that Logan Bell and George Stratton were in good defensive form.

Scott Kelly’s getting on in age but he made quite an impact when he came on and might have been coaxed to give more than 30min.

In the final first-division round on Saturday, Lincoln University meet New Brighton at Rawhiti Domain. They’ll take the DCL Shield with them after relieving Sydenham of it on Saturday.

MVP: Sam Gilbert 3, Connor Gordon 2, Dom Devine 1.

Earlier, Lincoln’s second-division team staged a last-minute thriller against Sydenham. Ben Crawford, no stranger to front-row play up to and including premier level, was the man to score the winning try. James Mangin landed the conversion to give the Wethers a 24-23 win.

Another front rower, Hironobu Kasuya who hails from Kanto Gakuin University in Japan, scored for Lincoln in the first half and like Crawford, gained hero status. Lock Jake Jarman and No.8 Andrew Hull were others to give their all. Tom McKay came on at blindside flanker in the second half and made a big impact. The Wethers will play the curtain raiser to Div 1 at the beach on Saturday at 1:00pm against 10th placed New Brighton.

LU scorers: James Mangin, Hironobu Kasuya, Ben Crawford tries; Mangin 3 conv, pen.

Meanwhile the Colts A side stormed at the Christchurch line in the dying stages in a bid to overcome a 7-15 deficit. The Lambs were awarded so many penalties in that time it seemed inevitable that a penalty try would come. But it didn’t, and the score stayed as it was.

On the bright side, there were young Lincoln players on display who look likely to go further. Australian lock Nick Frost, No.7 Glen Beardsley, lately of Shirley Boys’ High School, halfback Luke Donaldson, and centre Coel Kerr, on the first-division bench later, are names we’re likely to hear more of. This Saturday they take on the might of HSOB at Bob Deans at 1:00pm who currently sit in second place on the table.

LU scorers: Beardsley try; Fletcher Morgan conv.

The Hunters have had a strong end to their first round picking up good wins over Suburbs, New Brighton and HSOB U19, as well as their 2 bonus point loss to Christchurch to see them move into 6th pace on the table. Saturday's match had them playing on LU Rugby's newest field against HSOB U 19's. They were able to hold on to a good half time lead, unfortunately letting in a couple of tries, to come away with a good bonus point win 29-12.

Unfortunately our Women's team were defaulted to last minute resulting in no match. They finished the first round in second place with 7 wins from 8 matches and only 5 points behind Christchurch on top.