The 10th Annual University Rugby League Origin match saw a very determined and organised South team take victory over a North team that played some very resilient Rugby League but missed some opportunities.
Despite the rain, the artificial surface at Sheffield Hallam Sports Park on Saturday 7 February ensured a fast and flowing game, giving players of both sides the opportunity to shine and to demonstrate their capabilities when the grass pitches firm up in the summer months.
After opening exchanges, Henry Lenthall broke the deadlock and gave South an early lead on eight minutes as he broke free in a tackle and charged in unopposed, giving Oli Winterbottom an easy shot on goal, before five minutes later it was Lenthall again for the South after he pounced on Jacob Rigby’s grubber into the in goal. Winterbottom was again on target.
The rest of the half remained scoreless, with both sides threatening on several occasions, but holding firm defensively and serving up some terrific back and forth Rugby League.
After the break, South started like a house on fire as Jamie O’Keeffe locked on to a short ball and crashed under the sticks to score. Winterbottom’s conversion was a formality.
North needed some magic to get back into the game and after Deusjes Nzage’s attempt in the corner was ruled to have found touch first, it was Leon Stewart who came up with the goods, barging his way through and showing his strength to score out wide. Jake Dickinson couldn’t add the extras.
O’Keeffe added his second shortly afterwards, burrowing over from dummy half to restore some breathing space for South, Winterbottom again on target with the boot.
Centre Brogan Turner added a second North try, tidying up a fumbled ball in the in-goal which Dickinson converted with a monster kick from out wide against the wind.
Fittingly the final word went to South as Winterbottom charged onto a pass and carried three defenders with him, shrugging them off score a try of his own and capping a man of the match performance by converting his own try and sealing South’s third win in ten years.
Of course the result was immaterial to selectors who will use performances in the game and the previous inter-regional games to select the 2026 England Universities squad which will be announced in the next fortnight, but for the South team and the southern regions, a year of bragging rights is a deserved prize.
North 10
Mason McMurray, Deusjes Ngaze, Leon Stewart, Brogan Turner, Jake Dickinson, Ben Grindley Roberts, Ryan Moses, James Leach, Will Lintin, George Moffit, Hayden Todd, Chayse Quigley, Josh Shackleton.
Interchanges: Matty Rolls, Rob Mensah, Harrison Adams, Eddie Nolan, Matty Hand, Max Hope, Josh Barnard.
Tries: Leon Stewart (51), Brogan Turner (67)
Goals: Jake Dickinson 1/2
South 30
James Boyles, Tom Milton, Will Peasey, Ben Bell-Thorn, Alex Edun, Jacob Rigby, Oli Winterbottom, Fin Hay, Jamie O’Keeffe, Max Nissinen-Le, Ollie Patterson, Henry Lenthall, Tega Rume-Tabiowo.
Interchanges: Noah Tyson, Shay Flanagan, Oliver McDermott, Tom Fleming, John Davies, Dom Barnwell, Finn Dagnall.
Tries: Henty Lenthall (8, 13), Jamie O’Keeffe (41, 63), Oli Winterbottom (71)
Goals: Oli Winterbottom 5/5
Referee: Joe Stearne
Half Time: 0-12
Previous University Origin Results
2025: North 30 -12 South
2024: North 12 - 38 South
2023: North 20 – 26 South
2022: North 36 - 20 South
2021: No game due to pandemic
2020: North 26 - 4 South
2019: North 34 - 22 South
2018: North 34 - 16 South
2017: North 28 - 16 South
2016: North 44 - 28 South
Photo Credit: Jake Borrill Photography
