Two of Australia’s in form locks will trade Wallaby camp for club rugby this weekend. Selected in the training squad for the upcoming Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, Hugh Pyle (Warringah) and Caydern Neville (Manly) are back in Shute Shield action for their respective clubs this weekend.
Pyle is among six FxPro Super Rugby players named in the Rats’ side to take on Parramatta on Saturday, as they bid to regain eighth position from West Harbour, who leapfrogged them last round courtesy of a win over Penrith.
Neville makes a return for the Manly Marlins after a successful debut season with the Melbourne Rebels that saw him named rookie of the year. In his early appearances for the Marlins, the towering lock proved himself a key player and was instrumental in the club’s round two 26-28 victory over Sydney University, bagging a try of his own in the early season Manly Oval thriller.
The two heavy weight clubs will do battle again this weekend in round 14, with both sides looking to assert themselves as potential Shute Shield champions. Sydney University will again have their big guns firing in the hope of shooting down Manly’s confidence and have named five HSBC Waratahs including winger Tom Kingston, who grabbed a try in last week’s thrilling victory over Northern Suburbs, and prop Paddy Ryan who returns to club duty after a week in the Wallabies training squad. The match will be telecast live on ABC1 at 3pm.
In other round 14 matches, Southern Districts will hope to avenge their round 11 loss to Eastwood when they face off at Forshaw Rugby Park while Northern Suburbs and Eastern Suburbs do battle at North Sydney Oval, with both sides coming off a loss last round. A win over Gordon at Concord Oval would help West Harbour put some distance on Warringah on the Shute Shield ladder, while Penrith and Randwick will go head to head at Nepean Rugby Park.
As usual, you can catch all the Shute Shield action on ABC 1 every Saturday afternoon in NSW and the ACT. For interstate viewers, tune in at 4am on Tuesday mornings nationally on ABC 1 for the replay or alternatively you can catch up on ABC Iview.
In a new addition to viewing rugby in 2012, Club Rugby TV provides rugby viewers with the option to watch two full Shute Shield games in HD quality each week including commentary, highlights and interviews, all for free. A big plus for club rugby fans, the Club Rugby TV service is now FREE and its flexibility supports viewing on computer, Iphone, Ipad and IPTV, all in full HD.
You can also stay in touch with the Shute Shield on Facebook via http://www.facebook.com/shuteshield <http://www.facebook.com/shuteshield> or on http://www.facebook.com/abcshuteshield <http://www.facebook.com/abcshuteshield> where you can catch game highlights and a preview of the upcoming ABC TV match.
Alternatively, follow the Shute Shield on Twitter via @shuteshield <https://twitter.com/ShuteShield> or @abcshuteshield <https://twitter.com/abcshuteshield> where you can send your thoughts through the week and receive live updates during games. You can also catch highlights of every round on the new ShuteShieldTV channel on YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCchbKyHf54n17uGSrp9WlDQ?feature=mhee> .
You can catch up on all the Shute Shield action via digital radio with ABC Grandstands new rugby show The Clubhouse. Hosted by Patrick Foulkes and Niav Owens the program will be on-air for half an hour every Monday evening from 6:05pm. To tune in go to http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport <http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport> and click "listen live" or download the show on the blog any time at http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2012/05/the-clubhouse-abc-grandstands-monday-club-rugby-show.html <http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2012/05/the-clubhouse-abc-grandstands-monday-club-rugby-show.html>
(Brackets indicate position on Shute Shield ladder)
SYDNEY UNIVERISTY (2) v MANLY (3) at University Oval No.1 (ABC TV game, 3pm)
Sydney University make two changes to their side that defeated Northern Suburbs last weekend with HSBC Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan and Western Force fullback Alfie Mafi returning to the first grade side. Manly have made three changes to the side that beat Southern Districts last round with lock Caydern Neville returning to the Marlins while flanker Kitoni Ale and centre Peter Gilmore grab first grade starts after second grade performances last round.
Sydney University: 1.Jeremy Tilse, 2. James Riches, 3. Paddy Ryan; 4. Liam Winton, 5. Ollie Atkins; 6. Tim Davidson, 7. Jono Jenkins, 8. Trent Dyer; 9. Matt Schwager[c], 10. Daniel Kelly; 11. Michael Hodge, 12. James McMahon, 13. Tom Carter, 14. Tom Kingston; 15. Alfie Mafi.
Manly: 1. Dane Maraki, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. James Hilterbrand; 4. Ed Gower, 5 Greg Peterson; 6. Cadeyrn Neville, 7. Kotoni Ale, 8. Tevita Metuisela[c]; 9. Chris Cottee, 10. Scott Daruda; 11. Lui Siale, 12. Peter Gilmore, 13. Brian Sefanaia, 14. Richard Hooper; 15. Jacob Woodhouse.
Referee: Andrew Lees
NORTHERN SUBURBS (7) v EASTERN SUBURBS (6) at North Sydney Oval (3pm)
Eastern Suburbs make two changes to the side that lost to Eastwood last round with prop Rob McMickan and flanker Nathan Paila returning to the first grade side. Northern Suburbs name an unchanged side to the one that lost to Sydney University last round.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Cruz Ah Nau, 2.Scott Podmore, 3. Nick Lah; 4 Rory Walton, 5. Ben Matwijow; 6. Jordan Smiler, 7. Wil Brame, 8. AJ Gilbert [c]; 9. Dave Hardisty, 10. Dave Harvey; 11. Corey Brown, 12. Chris Tuatara-Morrison, 13. Samu Wara, 14. Isaiah Mosese; 15. Mitch Walton.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Ofa Fainga'anuku, 2. Heath Tessmann, 3. Rob McMickan; 4. Will Crutchley, 5. Pat O'Connor; 6. Richard Stanford, 7. Nathan Paila, 8. Pauliasi Taumoepeau[c]; 9. Brendan McKibbin, 10. Angus Sinclair; 11. Elijah Niko, 12. Tom Azar, 13. Anton Lavin, 14.Apakuki Maafu; 15. Pat Dellit.
Referee: James Leckie
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (4) v EASTWOOD (1) at Forshaw Rugby Park (3pm)
Southern Districts make four changes to the side that lost to Manly last round with flanker Jono Hayes coming into their first grade side after a second grade performance last week, and HSBC Waratahs Lopeti Timani and Grayson Hart returning to the side along with Western Force centre Nick Cummins, who makes his first club appearance of 2012.
Eastwood have made two changes to the side that defeated Eastern Suburbs last round, with HSBC Waratahs speedster Lachie Turner grabbing a start after scoring a try off the bench last round and Melbourne Rebels utility Jimmy Hilgendorf making a return for the Woodies.
Southern Districts: 1. Marcus Heather, 2. John Ulugia [c], 3. Tim Metcher; 4. Jed Holloway, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Matt Swann, 7. Jono Hayes, 8. Lopeti Timani; 9. Grayson Hart, 10. Rohan Saifolio; 11. Ben Connolly, 12. Apo Latunipulu, 13. Nick Cummins, 14. Atieli Pakalani; 15. Ben Volalvola.
Eastwood: 1. Marty Plokstys, 2. Chris Hill, 3. Barry Fa'amausili; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Mitch Lees; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Miles McCaffrey, 8. Hugh Perrett [c]; 9. Mick Snowden, 10. Barney Wood; 11. Lachie Turner, 12. Ben Seymour, 13. Michael McDougall, 14. Jimmy Hilgendorf; 15. Ben Batger.
Referee: Matt O’Brien
WEST HARBOUR (8) v GORDON (10) at Chatswood Oval (3pm)
West Harbour make only one change to the side that defeated Penrith last round with lock Bradford Kapa grabbing a first grade start after a second grade performance last round. Gordon make two changes to the side that defeated Warringah last round with winger Lachlan Mitchell returning to the side and fullback Will Shirvington grabbing a first grade start.
West Harbour: 1. Michael Alaalatoa, 2.Reg De Jager, 3. Vaughan Lomax; 4. Alfed Pinomi, 5. Bradford Kapa; 6. Tom Games, 7. Tom Andrews, 8. Sione Tau,; 9. Barton Jones, 10. Henry Seavula; 11. Tito Mua, 12. Nua Alone, 13. Rory Sidey, 14. Oleni Ngungutau; 15. Shaun Treweek.
Gordon: 1. Hugh Cropley, 2. Ron Hobden, 3. Tobias Gukibau[c]; 4. Roni Scarano, 5. Mark Johnson ; 6. Mark Williams, 7. Mitch Greenway, 8. Sebastian Murphy; 9. Terry Preston, 10. Chris Burnett; 11. Michael Manner, 12. Tom Hill, 13. Matthew McDougall, 14. Lachlan Mitchell; 15. Will Shirvington.
Referee: Michael Hogan
WARRINGAH (9) v PARRAMATTA (5) at Pittwater Rugby Park (3pm)
Warringah make seven changes to the side that lost to Gordon last round, going with a new-look front row featuring Western Force props Pek Cowan and Selesi Manu, who both make their first club appearance of 2012, with Melbourne Rebels’ hooker Luke Holmes returning to the first grade side. Lock Hugh Pyle also makes his 2012 Rats’ debut, as does Western Force centre Will Tupou. Fullback Dave Feltscheer and flanker James Casey return to the first grade side rounding out the changes for this week. Parramatta have named an unchanged side to the one that beat Randwick last round.
Warringah: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Luke Holmes, 3. Selesi Manu; 4.Ben Adams, 5. Hugh Pyle; 6. Michael Dalton, 7. James Casey, 8. Rob Kelly; 9. Josh Holmes, 10. Hamish Angus [c]; 11. Chris Arnold, 12. Will Tupou, 13. Dylan Smouha, 14. Edward Doyle; 15. David Feltscheer.
Parramatta: 1. Nicholas Blacklock, 2. Trent Hosher, 3. Chris Seuteni; 4. Evan Olmstead, 5. Adam Coleman; 6. Andrew Cox [c], 7. Rodney Ma'a, 8. Maile Latukefu; 9. Wiremu Ranui, 10. Tom Woods; 11. Sosene Anesi, 12. Damien Fakafanua, 13. Iese Leoota, 14. Moses Tavola, 15. Daley Harper.
Referee: Angus Gardner
PENRITH (11) v RANDWICK (12) at Nepean Rugby Park (3pm)
Penrith name an unchanged side to the one that was defeated by West Harbour last round while Randwick make three changes to the side that lost to Parramatta with hooker Pat Hodgetts, lock Bryce Speechley and flanker David Parsons all returning to the first grade line up.
Penrith: 1. Faitotoa Asa, 2. Kerren Straker, 3 Richard Aho[c]; 4. Dale Shane, 5. Kornelio Burgess; 6. Junior Taavili, 7.Cohen Masson, 8. Jason Peseta; 9. Solomona Silipa, 10. Fred Tuua; 11. Tala Mapesone, 12. Lelea Paea, 13. Mark Murray, 14. Wilson Silipa; 15. Chris Aunise-Scalan.
Randwick: 1. George Fifita, 2. Pat Hodgetts, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Lai Vatadroka, 5. Bryce Speechley; 6. David Parsons, 7. Jack Tovey, 8. Peter Samu; 9. Nathan Sievert, 10. Toby Browne; 11. Apaola Tea, 12. Terrence Hepetema, 13. Ethan Ford, 14. Tom Joseph; 15. Tim Wright.
Referee: William Houston
Click here for the current Shute Shield ladder.