Shute Shield Round 16 Preview
Three teams will battle it out for the last two Shute Shield finals spots in the last round of Sydney's premier club competition this Saturday.
It will be do or die for Warringah, Eastern Suburbs and West Harbour this weekend, with all three sides likely to need a win to secure one of two remaining spot in the Shute Shield finals series that begins next Saturday (August 25).
Sitting in seventh, Warringah are just one point clear of Easts and Wests, who sit eighth and ninth on the ladder (both with 32 points), coming into the final round.
With the top eight progressing to the four-round finals series, the Rats' amazing come from behind victory against Randwick last weekend leaves them needing a win over Penrith this weekend to assure their progress into the finals.
West Harbour left their run too late against Parramatta last weekend, going down to the Two Blues by seven points. The Pirates showed tremendous courage to grab a losing bonus point with the last play of the match, keeping their finals dream alive.
They will need that determination when they take on 11th placed Randwick, knowing that they are likely to need at least four points to secure qualification. Similarly, Easts will be looking for at least four points from their final match but face the tougher prospect of achieving it against second-placed Manly.
Assured of top spot, Eastwood's back to back premiership campaign got a huge boost last week when the Woodies wrapped up the minor premiership after Manly failed to defeat Northern Suburbs at Manly Oval.
The Shoremen will have their chance at upsetting the reigning premiers when they travel to T.G. Millner Field for the ABC TV game of the round this weekend. The arrival of Western Force flyhalf Dave Harvey has given Norths a massive boost of late and the playmaker is sure to be key player to watch this Saturday.
Eastwood meanwhile will benefit from the inclusion of HSBC Waratah Chris Alcock, the openside flanker having already provided some game changing moments for the Woodies this season, most notably his double against Manly back in round eight.
Wrapping up the final regular season round, third-placed Sydney University host fourth-placed Southern Districts and with nine NSW representatives on the park, its set to be a cracking match. Safe in second place, Manly will attempt to deny Eastern Suburbs the chance to play finals football when they do battle at Manly Oval. Out of finals contention, Gordon will attempt to avenge their round seven loss when they host sixth-place Parramatta at the weekend, with the latter another team assured of progression.
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.
Alternatively, follow the Shute Shield on
Twitter via @shuteshield or
@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.
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 the ABC website and click "listen live" or download the show on the blog any time
here.
(Brackets indicate position on Shute Shield ladder)
EASTWOOD (1) v NORTHERN SUBURBS (5) at T.G Millner Field (ABC TV game, 3pm)
Eastwood make three changes to the side that defeated Sydney University in round 15A with HSBC Waratah Chris Alcock coming into the flanker position while winger Cam Mitchell and centre Ben Seymour return to the first grade line up.
Northern Suburbs make four changes to the side that defeated Manly last round with Western Force representative Ben Whittaker making his first appearance for the Shoremen in 2012 at prop, while flanker Pat Sio and halfback Steve Evans make their maiden first grade starts in 2012. Rounding out the changes will see centre Lachlan Porteous making his return to the first grade side.
Eastwood: 1. Marty Plokstys, 2. Chris Hill, 3. Barry Fa'amausili; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Mitch Lees; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Chris Alcock, 8. Hugh Perrett [c]; 9. Mick Snowden, 10. Jimmy Hilgendorf; 11. Cam Mitchell, 12. Ben Seymour, 13. Michael McDougall, 14. Mark Frost; 15. Ben Batger.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Nick Lah, 2.Scott Podmore, 3. Ben Whittaker; 4 Rory Walton, 5. Ben Matwijow; 6. Pat Sio, 7. Wil Brame, 8. AJ Gilbert [c]; 9. Steve Evans, 10. Dave Harvey; 11. Corey Brown, 12. Lachlan Porteous, 13. Chris Tuatara-Morrison, 14. Peter Schuster; 15. Mitch Walton.
Referee: Andrew Lees
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (3) V SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (4) at University Oval No.1 (2:50pm)
Sydney University make three changes to the side that was defeated by Eastwood in round 15A with HSBC Waratahs' prop Paddy Ryan returning for the Students, while Western Force hooker Nathan Charles grabs his first start for Uni in 2012. Fullback Angus Roberts returns to the first grade side, wrapping up the changes for round 16.
Southern Districts make two changes to the side that defeated Eastern Suburbs in round 15A with lock Andrew Leota returning to the first grade side along with Western Force centre Nic Cummins.
Sydney University: 1. Jeremy Tilse, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Paddy Ryan; 4. Liam Winton, 5. Ollie Atkins; 6. Ben McCalman, 7. David Hickey, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Nic Stirzaker, 10. Daniel Kelly; 11. Michael Hodge, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Tom Kingston; 15. Angus Roberts.
Southern Districts: 1. Marcus Heather, 2. John Ulugia [c], 3. Tim Metcher; 4. Andrew Leota, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Jed Holloway, 7. Jono Hayes, 8. Lopeti Timani; 9. Grayson Hart, 10. Rohan Saifolio; 11. Ben Connolly, 12. Apo Latunipulu, 13. Nic Cummins, 14. Atieli Pakalani; 15. Ben Volalvola.
Referee: James Leckie
MANLY (2) v EASTERN SUBURBS (8) at Manly Oval (2:50pm)
Manly make two changes to the side that was defeated by Northern Suburbs last round with prop Jono Owens and centre Malietoa Hingano grabbing first grade starts.
Eastern Suburbs make two changes to the side that lost to Southern Districts with prop Sione Kolo returning to the first grade side along with halfback Luke Irwin.
Manly: 1. Dane Maraki, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Jono Owen; 4. Ed Gower, 5. Greg Peterson; 6. Cadeyrn Neville, 7. Kotoni Ale, 8. Tevita Metuisela; 9. Chris Cottee [c], 10. Scott Daruda; 11. Lui Siale, 12. Malietoa Hingano, 13. Brian Sefanaia, 14. Richard Hooper; 15. Jacob Woodhouse.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Sione Kolo, 2. Heath Tessmann, 3. Rob McMickan; 4. Will Crutchley, 5. Pat O'Connor; 6. Richard Stanford, 7. Nathan Paila, 8. Pauliasi Taumoepeau[c]; 9. Luke Irwin, 10. Angus Sinclair; 11. Elijah Niko, 12. Tom Azar, 13. Anton Lavin, 14. Charlie Clifton; 15. Apakuki Maafu.
Referee: Ian Smith
WARRINGAH (7) v PENRITH (12) at Pittwater Rugby Park (2:50pm)
Warringah make two changes to the side that defeated Randwick last round with flanker Robert Kelly and centre Chris Arnold making the first grade line up. Penrith have named an unchanged side to the one that was defeated by Gordon last weekend.
Warringah: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Luke Holmes, 3. Ray Brown; 4. Ben Adams, 5. Hugh Pyle; 6. Robert Kelly, 7. James Casey, 8. Richard Brown; 9. Brett Sheehan, 10. Hamish Angus [c]; 11. Edward Doyle, 12. Chris Arnold, 13. Dylan Smouha, 14. Michael Dalton; 15. David Feltscheer.
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. Paula Katoa, 10. Fred Tuua; 11. Tala Mapesone, 12. Fokolulu Taumalolo, 13. Mark Murray, 14. Solomona Silipa; 15. Lelea Paea.
Referee: Michael Hogan
RANDWICK (11) v WEST HARBOUR (9) at Coogee Oval (2:50pm)
Randwick make two changes to the side that was defeated by Warringah last round with lock Geoff Ingram and centre Ethan Ford retuning to the first grade side. West Harbour make two changes to the side that was defeated by Parramatta last round with No.8 Vaka Manu and halfback Ben Murray grabbing first grade starts.
Randwick: 1. George Fifita, 2. Nio Halangahu, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Geoff Ingram, 5. Lai Vatadroka; 6. David Parsons, 7. Steve Bennie, 8. Peter Samu; 9. Nathan Sievert, 10. Toby Browne; 11. Tom Joseph, 12. Terrence Hepetema, 13. Ethan Ford, 14. Apaola Tea; 15. Tim Wright.
West Harbour: 1. Michael Alaalatoa, 2.Reg De Jager, 3. Vaughan Lomax; 4. Alfed Pinomi, 5. Tom Patterson; 6. Tom Games, 7. Sione Tau, 8. Vaka Manu,; 9. Ben Murray, 10. Henry Seavula; 11. Tito Mua, 12. Nua Alone, 13. Rory Sidey, 14. Oleni Ngungutau; 15. Shaun Treweek.
Referee: Edward Martin
GORDON (10) v PARRAMATTA (6) at Chatswood Oval (2:50pm)
Gordon make one change to the side that defeated Penrith last round with flyhalf Erik Moss returning to the first grade line up.
Parramatta make four changes to the team that overcame West Harbour last weekend with lock Ian Parkinson, flyhalf Dom Graham and winger Lani Tiatia grabbing maiden first grade starts in 2012, while flanker Ryan Aniseko returns to the first grade side.
Gordon: 1. Hugh Cropley, 2. Ron Hobden, 3. Tobias Gukibau[c]; 4. Roni Scarano, 5. Andrew Chapman; 6. Mark Williams, 7. Mitch Greenway, 8. Mark Johnson; 9. Terry Preston, 10. Erik Moss; 11. Michael Manner, 12. Tom Hill, 13. Matthew McDougall, 14. Lachlan Mitchell; 15. Will Shirvington.
Parramatta: 1. Nicholas Blacklock, 2. Trent Hosher, 3. Chris Seuteni; 4. Evan Olmstead, 5. Ian Parkinson; 6. Ryan Aniseko, 7. Rodney Ma'a, 8. Andrew Cox [c]; 9. Kaleb Rech, 10. Dom Graham; 11. Lani Tiatia, 12. Daley Harper, 13. Damien Fakafanua, 14. Sosene Anesi, 15. Tom Woods.
Referee: Angus Gardner
SRU Premiership Competition » Shute Shield (1st Grade)
| Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Df |
BP 4t |
BP <7p |
BP |
Pts |
 |
Eastwood |
15 |
13 |
0 |
2 |
486 |
306 |
180 |
9 |
1 |
10 |
62 |
|
Manly |
15 |
12 |
0 |
3 |
384 |
320 |
64 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
56 |
|
Sydney University |
15 |
10 |
0 |
5 |
459 |
274 |
185 |
9 |
4 |
13 |
53 |
|
Southern Districts |
15 |
9 |
0 |
6 |
486 |
363 |
123 |
9 |
6 |
15 |
51 |
|
Northern Suburbs |
15 |
9 |
0 |
6 |
338 |
279 |
59 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
43 |
|
Parramatta |
15 |
8 |
0 |
7 |
384 |
400 |
-16 |
8 |
3 |
11 |
43 |
|
Warringah |
15 |
6 |
0 |
9 |
359 |
378 |
-19 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
33 |
|
Eastern Suburbs |
15 |
7 |
0 |
8 |
371 |
422 |
-51 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
32 |
|
West Harbour |
15 |
6 |
0 |
9 |
380 |
497 |
-117 |
5 |
3 |
8 |
32 |
|
Gordon |
15 |
4 |
0 |
11 |
311 |
402 |
-91 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
26 |
|
Randwick |
15 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
334 |
451 |
-117 |
6 |
5 |
11 |
23 |
|
Penrith |
15 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
273 |
473 |
-200 |
5 |
3 |
8 |
20 |
| P=Played W=Wins D=Draws L=Losses F=Points For A=Points Against Df=Points Difference BP 4t=Four Tries BP <7p=Close Losses BP=Total Bonus Points Pts=Ladder Points |