Tooheys New Shute Shield :: Round 2 Preview
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Friday, 4 April 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Round two of the Tooheys New Shute Shield hits Sydney on Saturday with a number of interesting matches set to shake up the table.
Billy Ratu - Gordon.
Billy Ratu - Gordon. [Tooheys New Shute Shield 2007 - Rd 7]
With five of the six victors last week recording bonus points, expansive rugby is again expected under the full set of Experimental Law Variations.
GORDON V RANDWICK at Chatswood Oval (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
Gordon will be stinging after their 50-13 loss at the hands of Eastern Suburbs last week and will be looking to hit back with a strong performance at home against Randwick in the ABC TV Match of the Day.
Lachlan Fear has resisted making wholesale changes following the big loss, however the return of veteran backrower Viliame Ratu should provide some more spark for the Highlanders at the base of the scrum.
Randwick will also be looking to improve after getting away with a narrow victory last weekend.
The Galloping Greens trailed Souths at half-time, but came back to win against a side which struggled to cope with a string of yellow cards.
Randwick will this week be boosted in the pack by the inclusion of Sekope Kepu and Ben Mowen, while Matt Carraro returns from a groin injury at inside centre. Josh Valentine is also calling Coogee Oval home in 2008 and is likely to appear at some stage.
The Tooheys New Shute Shield Match of the Day will be broadcast LIVE across NSW and the ACT on ABC 1 at 3:00pm, while it will also be screened nationally on the ABC's High Definition station, ABC HD Channel 20.
Gordon: 15. Mark Preston 14. Donny Nepia 13. Josh Whitaker 12. Billy Rainima 11. Terry Preston 10. Dave Harvey 9. Vinnie Byrne 8. Viliame Ratu 7. Craig Thomas 6. Ed Gower [c] 5. Kingsley Seale 4. Nifo Nifo 3. Steve Taylor 2. Alex Gluth 1. Ofa Fainga'anuku
Randwick: 15. Matthew Nethery 14. Awais Ali 13. Metui Maile 12. Matt Carraro 11. Ratu Nasiganiyavi 10. Toby Browne 9. Tony Luxford 8. Chris Houston [c] 7. Rodney Voullaire 6. Ben Mowen 5. Mat Whittleston 4. Steve Brennan 3. Daniel Spencer 2. Atonio Halangahu 1. Sekope Kepu
Referee: George Ayoub
EASTERN SUBURBS V PENRITH at Woollahra Oval (3:00pm)
Eastern Suburbs are riding high after a big victory last weekend and will be full of confidence against another side which conceded 50 points in round one.
The Beasties have lost the services of scrumhalf Luke Burgess who has been promoted to the Waratahs starting XV, however Brumbies rookie and schoolboy star Afusipa Taumeopeau has been named on the wing and is set to impress the Woollahra Oval crowd with some flair and spark.
While the Emus lost heavily to Norths in round one, they fought right to the death and fell just one try short of a bonus point.
Junior Waratahs half Jeremy Su'a comes into the squad this week, while inspirational captain Sia'a Taveuveu will again look to provide his side with strong leadership, exemplified by an impressive try in the opening round.
Eastern Suburbs: 15. Lloyd Jones 14. Gavin Debartolo 13. Anton LaVin 12. Tom Azar 11. Afusipa Taumopeau 10. Trevor Byles 9. Luke Irwin 8. Fergus Dorney 7. Tim McGann [c] 6. Ed Brenac 5. Adam Byrnes 4. Tom Egan 3. Aaron Tawera 2. Billy Johnston 1. Mike Ross
Penrith: 15. Nick Richardson 14. Campbell Sione 13. Patrick Mekuri 12. Sia'a Taveuveu [c] 11. Brent Varga 10. Jono Rolfe 9. Jeremy Su'a 8. Lai Vatadroka 7. Rob Carlson 6. Shem Evans 5. Liam Winton 4. Shannon Rushworth 3. Nick Barber 2. Elvis Levi 1. Dave Coventry
Referee: Daniel Cheever
NORTHERN SUBURBS V EASTWOOD at North Sydney Oval (3:00pm)
Norths have their tails up and are sitting second on the ladder after their 50-19 demolition of Penrith last week, however they are up against an impressive Eastwood lineup this week at North Sydney Oval.
Winger David Bond scored twice last week at Nepean, while the all-round performance was highlighted by the backs and forwards scoring four tries each.
Eastwood overcame a gallant Parramatta last week, outscoring the Two Blues 26-5 in the second half after the match was locked up at the break.
Flyer Jesse Leota bagged a double for the Woodies, who look even stronger this week with the inclusion of Brumby Runners centre Rowan Kellam.
Northern Suburbs: 15. Chris Oxford 14. David Bond 13. Andrew Smith 12. Codie Medway 11. Corey Brown 10. Todd Sly 9. Steven Evans 8. Will Hunt 7. Sam Latinipulu 6. James Fitzgerald 5. Adam Clayton 4. Chris Thomson 3. Ben Alexander 2. Al Manning [c] 1. Nick Lah
Eastwood: 15. Ben Batger 14. Jesse Leota 13. Rowan Kellam 12. Gray Viane 11. Filipo Toala 10. Barney Wood 9. Dave Rimmer 8. Josh Dunning 7. Hugh Perrett [c] 6. Seva Rokobaro 5. Marty Wilson 4. Phil Mathers 3. Will Scott 2. Chris Hill 1. Simon Norris
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore
PARRAMATTA V WARRINGAH at Two Blues Park (3:00pm)
Both of these sides will be out for maximum points after squandering chances to win their first round encounters.
Parramatta were tied with Eastwood at half time in their opening match only to be blown away in the second half, while Warringah's 8-26 half-time deficit against West Harbour was too much to peg back, eventually going down by four.
Skipper Andrew Brown led from the front last week for Parramatta and will be joined in the second row by Junior Waratahs lock Steve Mafi, while the centre pairing of Clint Eadie and Sam Harris was a shining light for the Rats, combining for 23 of Warringah's 28 points.
Parramatta: 15. Paula Kaveinga 14. Mitch Gow 13. Josh Weeks 12. Dave Alo 11. Roland Herea 10. Aaron Mattin 9. Luke Tabutoa 8. Junior To'o 7. Winney Paulo 6. Andrew Cox 5. Steve Mafi 4. Andrew Brown [c] 3. Kris Zvirbulis 2. Scott Podmore 1. Kruger Roache
Warringah: 15. Pat McCabe 14. Ed Doyle 13. Clint Eadie 12. Sam Harris 11. Andrew Wiles 10. Michael Ruthven 9. Sam Hutcherson 8. James Catt 7. Mitchell Greenway 6. Saia Lutu 5. Luke Hanvey 4. Scott Flint 3. Pingi Talaapitaga 2. David Mason 1. Dan Raymond [c]
Referee: James Leckie
WEST HARBOUR V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY at Concord Oval (3:00pm)
West Harbour were extremely impressive in their bonus point victory over Warringah on the northern beaches last weekend, however Sydney University were just as rampant in their venture north when they defeated Manly.
The Pirates were on fire in the first half, running in four tries to one to set up a match-winning lead which they held onto despite a second half comeback.
Similarly, Uni scored four tries to one in the second half of their clash with the Marlins to run away with their match, setting up what should be an enticing clash at Concord.
The Students have been boosted this week by the inclusion of Waratahs Daniel Halangahu and Will Caldwell, however Alfi Mafi has been recalled to the Super 14 side.
West Harbour: 15. Ben Martin [c] 14. John Sinisa 13. Rory Sidey 12. Lester Salanoa 11. Sam Raymond 10. Dave Paurini 9. Steve Massey 8. Isaiah Pine 7. Mark Porpiglia 6. James King 5. Ben Lonsdale 4. Damian Lloyd 3. Michael Rigney 2. Ben Roberts 1. Campese Ma'afu
Sydney University: 15. Nathan Trist 14. Mitch Inman 13. Lachlan Mitchell 12. Daniel Halangahu 11. Hayden Bushell 10. Dan Kelly 9. Nick Haydon 8. Tim Davidson [c] 7. Pat McCutcheon 6. Ben McCalman 5. Will Caldwell 4. Lachlan McCutcheon 3. Laurie Weeks 2. Nathan Charles 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
Referee: Nathan Pearce
MANLY V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at Manly Oval (3:00pm)
Both of these sides had their chances in round one and will be eager for their first win when they meet at Manly this weekend.
With ten minutes to go and only trailing 27-16, Manly were still in with the chance of an upset if they were next to score, however they were unable to overcome the Students defence.
The Rebels also had a great chance at four points after leading Randwick at half-time, however they could not get across the line in the second half and had to settle for a solitary bonus point.
Adam D'Arcy kicked well to keep the Marlins in the hunt last week and will be a crucial player for the home side on Saturday, while Southern Districts' Gladiator winger Jackson 'Outlaw' Mullane is sure to catch the eye of many in the stands.
Manly: 15. Adam D'Arcy 14. Matt Bell 13. Jarrod Murphy 12. Jack Joy 11. Lupini Siale 10. Stephen Locke 9. Chris Cottee [c] 8. Mark Fisher 7. Will Brame 6. Ryan Melrose 5. Sean Maloney 4. Pat Maile 3. James Lakepa 2. Tim Donnan 1. Eddie Aholelei
Southern Districts: 15. Michael Black 14. Jackson Mullane 13. Craig Richards 12. Sean Rudder 11. Andrew Barrett 10. Matthew Adair 9. Timothy Small 8. Grant Trouville 7. Terry Autagavia 6. Luke Smart 5. Kane Douglas 4. Matthew Trouville 3. Dan Palmer 2. James McCormack [c] 1. Duncan Chubb
Referee: Michael Blair