Tooheys New Shute Shield :: Round 4 Preview
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Friday, 18 April 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
Round four of the Tooheys New Shute Shield is set to be a big one with the competition returning to the Sydney Football Stadium, while second plays third in what should be a fantastic encounter.
West Harbour celebrate
Sam Raymond and Rory Sidey congrantulate John Sisisa [2008 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 1 - West Harbour v Warringah]
The ABC Match of the Day sees West Harbour host Manly at Concord, Northern Suburbs will play a home game at the SFS against frontrunners Sydney University while second place on the table could be up for grabs when Warringah travel to Woollahra Oval to take on Easts.
WEST HARBOUR V MANLY at Concord Oval (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
The ABC TV Match of the Day is shaping up as an interesting encounter with Manly travelling to Concord to take on West Harbour.
The Pirates have started the season with two wins from three games and in Ben Martin, John Sinisa and Rory Sidey have some potent tryscoring ability out wide.
Manly have collected a solitary bonus point from three home games to start the season and Phil Blake has started to make some backline changes to hopefully inspire more points.
Wests are always tough at home, but expect Manly to show an improved performance this week.
West Harbour: 15. Ben Martin [c] 14. John Sinisa 13. Rory Sidey 12. Lester Salanoa 11. Irisa Taala 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
Manly: 15. Matt Hopper 14. Adam D'Arcy 13. Lupini Siale 12. Luke Johnson 11. Stephen Scoles 10. Anthony Bergelin 9. Chris Cottee [c] 8. Mark Fisher 7. Will Brame 6. Andrew Davis 5. Sean Maloney 4. Pat Maile 3. James Lakepa 2. Elvis Taione 1. Eddie Aholelei
Referee: Andrew Lees
NORTHERN SUBURBS V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY at Sydney Football Stadium (2:45pm)
This game is being played as a curtain raiser to the HSBC Waratahs v Lions clash at the Sydney Football Stadium and is a match worthy of such a stage.
Sydney University are on maximum points after three rounds but Head Coach Damien Hill is still after improvement, and a reshuffled backline which sees Daniel Halangahu with room to move at fullback will provide some exciting options.
Norths - who are averaging almost 40 points per match - will be looking to hit back after last week's loss in the final stages to Warringah. Former Gordon back Ryno Delport moves onto the wing for Norths to add some more speed, while Andrew Smith shifts from centre to fullback.
A huge showdown will be in the front row where the powerhouse Uni trio of Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Nathan Charles and Laurie Weeks take on Nick Lah, Al Manning and Canadian international Casey Dunning who starts his first top grade game with Norths.
Northern Suburbs: 15. Andrew Smith 14. David Bond 13. James Lew 12. Chris Burnett 11. Ryno Delport 10. Todd Sly 9. Steven Evans 8. William Hunt 7. Sam Latunipulu 6. David Maunsell 5. James Fitzgerald 4. Chris Thomson 3. Nick Lah 2. Al Manning [c] 1. Casey Dunning
Sydney University: 15. Daniel Halangahu 14. Lachlan Rosengreen 13. Lachlan Mitchell 12. Mitch Inman 11. Hayden Bushell 10. Dan Kelly 9. Nathan Sievert 8. Tim Davidson [c] 7. Jono Jenkins 6. Pat McCutcheon 5. Lachlan McCutcheon 4. Ben McCalman 3. Laurie Weeks 2. Nathan Charles 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
Referee: Daniel Cheever
EASTERN SUBURBS V WARRINGAH at Woollahra Oval (3:00pm)
Easts sit in second with three wins but failed to score a bonus point last week which was their only blemish in an otherwise perfect season to date.
Warringah, who made an impressive comeback last week against Northern Suburbs to secure a bonus point victory, currently sit in third and can overtake Easts with victory at Woollahra.
Easts will again field an experienced and stable lineup, while Warringah's inclusion last week of returning Sevens stars Willie Bishop, Peter Owens and Ross Duncan will have even more impact in this match.
Eastern Suburbs: 15. Gavin Debartolo 14. Pat Smith 13. Lloyd Jones 12. Tom Azar 11. Afusipa Taumopeau 10. Trevor Byles 9. Luke Irwin 8. Tom Egan [c] 7. Will Brock 6. Ben Hopkins 5. Adam Byrnes 4. Richard Stanford 3. Aaron Tawera 2. Billy Johnston 1. Mike Ross
Warringah: 15. Pat McCabe 14. Willie Bishop 13. Clint Eadie 12. Sam Harris 11. Peter Owens 10. Michael Ruthven 9. Sam Hutcherson 8. Saia Latu 7. Mitchell Greenway 6. Ross Duncan 5. Luke Hanvey 4. Scott Flint 3. Pingi Talaapitaga 2. David Mason 1. Dan Raymond [c]
Referee: Julian Pritchard
GORDON V EASTWOOD at Chatswood Oval (3:00pm)
Both of these sides entered 2008 with high expectations and both will be keen for victory to stay in touch with the top six.
Gordon are high on confidence after back to back victories, but will not be able to afford the complacency of last week when they lost the second half to Penrith.
Eastwood on the other hand need to get their winning culture returning. After getting a sniff at home last week but not being able to get the crucial try to put Easts away, the Woodies know what it will take to overcome the Highlanders away from home.
These sides match up very evenly with a great battle expected at Chatswood in what will be one of the matches of the round.
Gordon: 15. Mark Preston 14. Sisa Waga 13. Josh Whittaker 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
Eastwood: 15. Ben Batger 14. Jesse Leota 13. Gray Viane 12. Tim Corcoran 11. Filipo Toala 10. Barney Wood 9. Mick Snowden 8. Josh Dunning 7. Hugh Perrett [c] 6. Ben Coridas 5. Seva Rokobaro 4. Marty Wilson 3. Aaron Broughton-Rouse 2. Chris Hill 1. Simon Norris
Referee: Matt Goddard
RANDWICK V PENRITH at Coogee Oval (3:00pm)
On paper Randwick are hot favourites in this encounter however Penrith have showed enough throughout the season to prove if they can put together 80 minutes of good Rugby they will be a real force.
Wicks winger Ratu Nasiganiyavi leads the competition with five tries and has scored in every game so far, with the Galloping Greens halves of Josh Valentine and Danny Kroll certain to try and spread the ball despite the wet conditions.
There's no question about Penrith's pointscoring ability averaging almost 24 points per match, so if their defence can cause Randwick trouble, they give themselves every chance of throwing up a huge surprise.
Randwick: 15. Matthew Nethery 14. Andrew Mahoney 13. Metui Maile 12. Toby Browne 11. Ratu Nasiganiyavi 10. Danny Kroll 9. Josh Valentine 8. Ben Mowen 7. Rodney Voullaire 6. Chris Houston [c] 5. Tim Maxwell 4. Steve Brennan 3. Lotu Taukeiaho 2. Atonio Halangahu 1. Sekope Kepu
Penrith: 15. Nick Richardson 14. Brent Varga 13. Patrick Mekuri 12. Sia'a Taveuveu [c] 11. Campbell Sione 10. Jono Rolfe 9. Jeremy Su'a 8. Luke Wilson 7. Rob Carlson 6. Shemaiah Evans 5. Lai Vatadroka 4. Shannon Rushworth 3. Nick Barber 2. Rod Brennan 1. Dave Coventry
Referee: James Scholtens
PARRAMATTA V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS at Two Blues Park (3:00pm)
Parramatta scored four tries against the usually steadfast University defence last week and will need to have a lot of points in them to overcome Southern Districts.
Souths are another team which has struggled to put together two good halves of football in the same match having twice lost when leading at half time, with their only victory coming when they trailed at the break in round two against Manly.
Parramatta are still winless after three rounds, however their bonus point last week will lift the confidence, and the wet weather will make Two Blues Park an even more imposing venue for the visiting team.
Parramatta: 15. Ben Borg 14. Roland Herea 13. Paula Kaveinga 12. Dave Alo 11. Tito Mua 10. Josh Weeks 9. Luke Tabutoa 8. John Natadra 7. Winney Paulo 6. Junior To'o 5. Steve Mafi 4. Andrew Brown [c] 3. Matt Toli 2. Scott Podmore 1. Kris Zvirbulis
Southern Districts: 15. Andrew Barrett 14. Dennis Pili 13. Jackson Mullane 12. Michael Black 11. Hayato Heika 10. Darren Kapene 9. Tim Small 8. Grant Trouville 7. Terry Autagavia 6. Luke Smart 5. Kane Douglas 4. Matt Trouville 3. Dan Palmer 2. James McCormack [c] 1. Duncan Chubb
Referee: Steve Hardy