Hodgkins and Manly Snatch Victory from Sydney University
IslandStats.com
The spirit of the "Manly Marlins" was on full display this afternoon as their second-grade side produced a Houdini-like escape to stun Sydney University in a Shute Shield classic.
In a match that appeared lost with ten minutes remaining, the Marlins overcame a daunting 12-point deficit to secure a breathtaking 37-36 victory with the final kick of the game.
The encounter was a high-octane affair from the whistle, but it was the students from Sydney University who seemed to have the measure of the contest as the clock ticked toward the eighty-minute mark. However, the Marlins, featuring Bermudian international fly-half Jamin Hodgkins, refused to wave the white flag.
A relentless late surge saw Manly camp inside the University 22, chipping away at the lead. As the game entered "red time" with no room for error, the Marlins launched one final, desperate assault. The pressure finally told when Rex Collins crashed over for a try to bring Manly within a single point.
The drama didn't end there. With the result of the match resting on the conversion, the Marlins kept their nerve. The successful kick—the final touch of a pulsating afternoon—completed the comeback and sparked jubilant celebrations among the Manly faithful.
For Hodgkins, who made his highly anticipated debut for the club just last month, the victory is a significant marker in his first season in the Shute Shield. The former Warwick Academy student has been instrumental in directing the Marlins' attack since arriving from Canada's Pacific Pride Academy, and today's resilient team performance further cements the side's reputation as a "never-say-die" outfit.
The win provides a massive momentum boost for the Manly club as they continue their 2026 campaign in what is widely regarded as the premier club competition in the Southern Hemisphere.
