Tooheys New Shute Shield :: Round 15 Preview
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Friday, 23 July 2010
NSWRU Media Unit
There's just eight weeks remaining for sides to stake their claim for a playoffs berth in the Tooheys New Shute Shield with Saturday's Eastwood-Eastern Suburbs clash highlighting Round 15.
Ed Brenac wrestles Locky McCaffrey to the turf.
Ed Brenac wrestles Locky McCaffrey to the turf. [2010 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 4 - Eastwood v Eastern Suburbs; Woollahra Oval; 1/5/10]
Eastwood (3rd) v Eastern Suburbs (4th) at T.G. Millner Field (3:10pm, ABC TV)
Eastwood are now within striking distance of the all-important top two and have a chance to reinforce their credentials when they host Eastern Suburbs at T.G. Millner Field.
The Woodies got the money with a 29-20 victory when these sides met in round four and Saturday's encounter is set to be just as tough. This match pits third against fourth with Eastwood having won seven of their last eight matches while Easts are on a five-game winning streak.
Eastwood let West Harbour get out to a 24-point lead before winning late in the game last week. They will be without Benn Robinson who is back on Test duty, however HSBC waratahs flyer Lachie Turner returns in the centres.
Easts' game has developed as the season has gone along, and while there is no question over their attack (which is currently ranked second in the competition), tomorrow's query will be defence. The Beasts have conceded 64 points in the last two weeks cannot afford to do that against an Eastwood team which has conceded just five tries over the past three round.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Keiran Longbottom; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Mitch Lees; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Locky McCaffrey; 9. James Stannard, 10. James Foote; 11. Nathan Brecht, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Lachie Turner, 14. John Grant; 15. Ben Batger.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Ofa Fainga'anuku, 2. Huia Edmonds, 3. Guy Shepherdson; 4. Phil Mathers, 5. Ed Brenac; 6. Talalelei Gray, 7. Will Brock, 8. Andrew Shaw; 9. Brendan McKibbin, 10. Matt To'omua; 11. Damon Anderson, 12. Ben Ward, 13. Ryan Cross, 14. Anton Lavin; 15. Pat Dellit.
Referee: Nathan Pearce
Manly (1st) v Northern Suburbs (8th) at Manly Oval (3:00pm)
Manly will be hoping to frank their table-topping form with another win when they face Northern Suburbs at Manly Oval.
The Marlins are on a five-game winning streak and have a sole focus on not letting their season slip away at the tail end as they did last year. In 2009 Manly sat atop the competition ladder after 14 rounds with 59 competition points; at the same point this season they are also in first with 58 points. However over the last eight weeks in 2009 Manly accumulated just ten more competition points to finish three points ahead of seventh before bowing out in the opening week of the finals.
Manly's task this week is made harder by the loss of Tevita Metuisela and Brian Sefanaia who were both injured in last week's local derby against Warringah.
As a result of a turbulent race for positions at the bottom of the top six, Northern Suburbs are still in with an outside shot of the finals. The Shoremen have won just two of their last six matches but sit only four points behind sixth-placed Sydney University on the competition ladder.
Norths' chances have been helped with Cameron Shepherd's non-selection in the Test team with the in-form fullback one of the Shoremen's best in recent weeks.
Manly: 1. Eddie Aholelei, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Tim Fairbrother; 4. Dylan Sigg, 5. Greg Peterson; 6. Will Brame [c], 7. Chris Westekenk, 8. Neil Meyer; 9. Chris Cottee, 10. Mark Swanepoel; 11. Lui Siale, 12. Alex Miles, 13. Tyrone Smith, 14. Nemani Nadolo; 15. Adam D'Arcy.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Dave Goulter, 2. Jarrad Hall, 3. Nick Lah [c]; 4. Ben Matwijow, 5. Seti Tafua; 6. AJ Gilbert, 7. Carlos Blanco, 8. Matt Lamont; 9. Steve Evans, 10. Hadley Jackson; 11. Chris Moore, 12. Chris Burnett, 13. James Lew, 14. Cam Crawford; 15. Cameron Shepherd.
Referee: Ian Smith
Gordon (10th) v West Harbour (9th) at Chatswood Oval (3:00pm)
West Harbour remain in touch of the top six however Gordon have the potential to thwart the Pirates' late season run at Chatswood Oval.
The Highlanders have been somewhat disappointing in 2010 with victories against Parramatta and Penrith their only reasons for celebration over the past ten weeks. Apart from those two victories, Gordon's only other victory came against West Harbour in round four which gives the home side confidence they can once again topple the Pirates.
West Harbour have been unlucky in the last two weeks with late penalties cruelling their chances against top four opposition. Victories in those games would have the Pirates inside the top six, however they now sit in ninth with their season on the line. How they respond could well determine the outcome of not only this match, but their season.
Gordon: 1. Marty Plokstys, 2. Ben Whittaker, 3. Tobius Gukibau; 4. Jared Barry, 5. Mark Johnson; 6. Paulie Tuala, 7. Chris Alcock, 8. Jason Peseta; 9. Tom Sully, 10. Josh Keil; 11. Sai Vakaru, 12. Dave Harvey [c], 13. Dane Haylett-Petty, 14. Matt McDougall; 15. Dion Berryman.
West Harbour: 1. Campese Ma'afu, 2. Todd Pearce, 3. Rodney Blake; 4. Steve Mafi, 5. Sam Wykes; 6. Sione Tau, 7. Sam Latunipulu, 8. David Fungalei; 9. David Fong, 10. Jai Ayoub; 11. Tito Mua, 12. Lester Salanoa, 13. Henry Seavula, 14. Macquire Tatola; 15. Dave Paurini.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson
Sydney University (6th) v Warringah (7th) at University Oval No.1 (3:00pm)
Last week Warringah was leapfrogged by Sydney University for the final place in the top six but will be determined to take it back when they meet the Students at University Oval No.1.
In a Sir Roden Cutler Shield defence, Uni have the opportunity to open up a buffer on the other teams contending for a finals position if they can overcome the Rats.
However it will be a tough task against a Rats outfit keen to hit back from last week's Bayfield Cup loss to Manly. It was Warringah's first loss in five weeks however there is little room for error for the Rats who last year claimed the final place in the top six on 67 points, almost twice their current total.
Sydney University: 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Jeremy Tilse; 4. Dave Dennis, 5. Dave McDuling; 6. Ben McCalman, 7. Pat McCutcheon, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Dan Kelly; 11. Peter Betham, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Lachie Mitchell, 14. Nathan Trist; 15. Julian Huxley.
Warringah: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Luke Holmes, 3. AJ Whalley; 4. Brent Murphy, 5. Tom Hockings; 6. Beau Robinson, 7. Michael Lipman [c], 8. Trevor Richardson; 9. Josh Holmes, 10. Hamish Angus; 11. Dylan Smouha, 12. Sam Harris, 13. Ed Doyle, 14. Joelin Rapana; 15. Pat McCabe.
Referee: Steve Hardy
Penrith (11th) v Southern Districts (2nd) at Nepean Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Penrith's draw against Parramatta last week sees them within a win of tenth-placed Gordon however the Emus enter this week's match as big underdogs against Southern Districts.
While Penrith have a lot to play for, Souths will be equally determined for a top effort. The Rebels have followed ten straight wins with three losses in the past four weeks to drop out of first place for the first time since round four.
Souths have brought in ex-Manly hooker Nick Seymour to fill a place in the front row following injuries to John Ulugia and Sam Zlatevski. Matt Trouville moves into the second row after Rome Nifo was ruled out with exciting flanker Callum Reilly moving onto the side of the scrum for Trouville.
While the Rebels are starting to call on some of their second-stringers late in the year, their current line-up is a credit to the club's evolution with three Colts from the past two seasons present in the first grade starting side.
Penrith: 1. Dave Coventry, 2. Elvis Levi, 3. Toa Asa; 4. Johnny Smith, 5. Richard Aho; 6. Chris Aho, 7. Winnie Paulo, 8. Vili Napa'a; 9. Sikuti Vunipola, 10. Ray Alo; 11. Luke Cross [c], 12. Henry Lilomaiava, 13. Stan Tuionuku, 14. Dave Alo; 15. Tawhiri Walsh.
Southern Districts: 1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. Nick Seymour, 3. Nic Henderson; 4. Matt Trouville, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Sean Doyle, 7. Callum Reilly, 8. Ita Vaea; 9. Nathan Sievert, 10. Josh Gamgee [c]; 11. Ben Schreiber, 12. Bernie Orbell, 13. Brackin Karauria-Henry, 14. Sisa Waqa; 15. Nicky Price.
Referee: Andrew Lees
Randwick (5th) v Parramatta (12th) at Coogee Oval (3:00pm)
Randwick will be disappointed with last week's loss to Eastern Suburbs which saw them slip further away from the top four however they have their chance to go up ladder when they host Parramatta at Coogee Oval.
The Galloping Greens will be without in-form outside backs Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell, however they still have firepower in the backs through Josh Valentine, Gene Fairbanks and Nick Cummins. Mark Chisholm's presence in the second row strengthens a pack which also includes HSBC Waratah forwards Sekope Kepu and Ben Mowen.
Parramatta achieved their best result of the season last week with a 17-all draw against Penrith which broke a 28-game losing streak. The Two Blues have made a number of changes for Saturday's clash, and despite Parramatta providing Randwick with a number of scares in recent years, on paper this encounter looks somewhat one-sided.
Randwick: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. John Fonokalafi, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Mark Chisholm, 5. Steve Brennan; 6. Seilala Lam, 7. Dave Vizer, 8. Ben Mowen; 9. Josh Valentine, 10. Brent Kelly; 11. Paul Hannify, 12. Gene Fairbanks, 13. Nick Cummins, 14. Matt Nethery; 15. TBC.
Parramatta: 1.Richard Just, 2. Rossano Fagnani, 3. Lui Sakaria; 4. Ryan Aniseko, 5. Josh Kron; 6. Sam evalu, 7. Andrew Cox [c], 8. Maile Latekefu; 9. Lua Vailoaloa, 10. Pierre Hola; 11. Brendan Lane, 12. John Fonua, 13. Tom Woods, 14. Iliasa Toroca; 15. Steve Bortolussi.
Referee: James Leckie