From mates to arch rivals on rugby pitch for 1st Colts gun Max Roach, Sydney Uni v Gordon Rd4

By day they are his friends and college mates but come rivalry round in Sydney 1st Colts they will be this teenagers’ fiercest rivals - and he’s up for making them suffer.

Amanda Lulham

@amandalulham

2 min read

April 24, 2025 - 9:54AM

News Sport Network

Young Gordon player Max Roach with an Aussie schoolboys side.

Sport

Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.

By day they are his friends and college mates but come rivalry round in Sydney1st Colts they will be Max Roach’s fiercest rivals - and he’s up for making them suffer.

The Gordon v Sydney Uni match could be the game of the round over Anzac weekend as last year’s runners-up clash with Uni for the first time since knocking them out of the 2024 finals race in the semi-finals last year.

For Roach, who studies commerce at Sydney Uni and lives at St Paul’s College but has stayed loyal to his old Gordon club for 1st Colts, the match will pip him against old school and college mates in what is expected to be on the most fiercely contests matches of the fourth round of the comp.

“I also know a lot of the boys from Knox where we played together’’ said Roach who lived in French, speaks the language and would like to play rugby there in the future.

Young Gordon player Max Roach with an Aussie schoolboys side.

“So I have a fair few mates playing at Sydney Uni in that team like Harper Strachan and Ned Ericsson.

“But I stayed at Gordon. I am a junior and played seven or eight years there and I really like the coaching group.

“It’s also a good way to stay in contact with my old mate from school and the culture is one of the bets parts of the club.’’

INSIDE COLTS RUGBY

COLTS RD 3 WRAP

COLTS RD 2 WRAP

COLTS RD 1 WRAP

Young Gordon player Max Roach with an Aussie schoolboys side.

While Gordon are sitting pretty at the top of the ladder Roach said he and his teammate are on alert for a Uni resurgence after the shock loss last weekend.

“It’s as perfect storm,’’ said who has scored eight tries from the wing this season.

“They didn't beat Gordon last year and then lost to Rats last week.

“It’s also Anzac Day, a home game and they will have a lot of people there.’’

“We will have to come out firing.’’

Roach said beating “big club” Uni is a motivating factor for Gordon.

“We aren’t Easts or Sydney Uni, the big clubs who get a lot of the attention and praise,’’ he said.

“It’s a bit of a driving force to show we are better than them and can go out and do the job.

“I even hear it form my mates they don’t rate us - and they should.’’

The results in rivalry round could have a big imapct on the league ladders with just three teams now undefated after three rounds. READ MORE