Shute Shield :: Round 20 Preview

2009 Tooheys New Shute Shield :: Round 20 Preview


Friday, 14 August 2009
NSWRU Media Unit


Round 20 will go a long way to deciding the top six of the 2009 Tooheys New Shute Shield with all of the top six sides facing off against each other, while the teams in seventh and eighth also do battle.

Uni and Easts pack down in Rd 9.
Uni and Easts pack down in Round 9. [2009 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 9 - Sydney University v Eastern Suburbs; University Oval No.1; 23/5/09]


While the Randwick-Eastwood (3rd-4th) clash will take place next weekend, Eastern Suburbs will tomorrow host Sydney University in the ABC TV Game of the Day and Manly travel to Chatswood Oval to play Gordon on Sunday.

West Harbour will be hoping the return of Lote Tuqiri can inspire them in a must win match against Warringah which will have a major impact on the ladder.

In other games, Southern Districts face Parramatta at Forshaw Rugby Park and Penrith travel to North Sydney Oval to play the Shoremen.



2009 TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD
Round 20 - 15-16 August 2009

Saturday 15 August 2009
EASTERN SUBURBS (5th) V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (1st) at Woollahra Oval (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
Eastern Suburbs will be looking to take a step closer to securing a playoff position when they host front-runners Sydney University at Woollahra Oval.

The Beasties currently sit in fifth on 60 points, four points ahead of Gordon and Warringah, meaning a loss could potentially see the club drop out of the top six.

Easts will be boosted by the presence of Wallabies Matt Hodgson and Ryan Cross while Australian Under 20s rep Matt Toomua is back after the Brumbies tour to France.

Sydney University are also strengthened this week by the return of Phil Waugh, with the Students gunning for their 13th straight victory.

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Lawrence Marsh, 2. Sam Zlatevski, 3. Rob McMickan; 4. Tom Egan [c], 5. Lee Morley; 6. Ed Brenac, 7. Matt Hodgson, 8. Fergus Dorney; 9. Luke Irwin, 10. Matt Toomua; 11. Gavin Debartolo, 12. Tom Azar, 13. Ryan Cross, 14. Anton LaVin; 15. Pat Dellit.
Sydney University: 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Ben Roberts, 3. Pat Ryan; 4. Dave Dennis, 5. Ben McCalman; 6. David Haigh, 7. Phil Waugh, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Scott Stumbles, 10. Daniel Halangahu; 11. Jacob Taylor, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Richie Rinau, 14. Nick Edwards; 15. Nathan Trist.
Referee: Ian Smith
Last Meeting: Round 9 - Sydney University 28 d Eastern Suburbs 8 at University Oval No.1



NORTHERN SUBURBS (10th) V PENRITH (12th) at North Sydney Oval (3:00pm)
Northern Suburbs need to finish the competition on a high note if they are to lift themselves out of the bottom three, and that task begins tomorrow against Penrith at North Sydney Oval.

The Shoremen have lost eight in a row, however they will not be taking Penrith lightly having gone down to the Emus 14-6 in round nine.

New Wallaby squad member Kurtley Beale was impressive last week in his first hit-out since the IRB Junior World Championship and will be keen for another strong outing.

If Penrith can repeat their round nine heroics, they could step out of the cellar of the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder and move above Parramatta.Northern Suburbs: 1. Nick Lah, 2. Ryan Dalziel, 3. Tim Archibald; 4. Brian Doyle, 5. Pat Maile; 6. Matt Lamont, 7. Sam Latunipulu, 8. Al McFarland; 9. Steve Evans [c], 10. Chris Burnett; 11. Anthony Shortis, 12. Chris Moore, 13. Andrew Smith, 14. Corey Brown; 15. Kurtley Beale.
Penrith: 1. Dave Coventry, 2. Myles Hunkin, 3. Nick Barber; 4. Liam Winton, 5. Mosese Makasini; 6. David Reopoamo, 7. Michael Paulo, 8. Joey Afualo; 9. Alex Pinson, 10. Matt Sonter; 11. Campbell Sione, 12. Luke Cross [c], 13. Nua Alone, 14. Moefili Pinono; 15. Zeb Filise.
Referee: Andrew Lees
Last Meeting: Round 9 - Penrith 14 d Northern Suburbs 6 at Nepean Rugby Park No.2



SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (9th) V PARRAMATTA (11th) at Forshaw Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Southern Districts have turned Forshaw Rugby Park into one of the most formidable grounds in the competition and will be keen to keep that record going when they face Parramatta.

A loss to Manly in round 17 is the only blemish for the Rebels at Sylvania since moving into the back end of the competition in June.

Western Force centre Josh Tatupu has dropped out of the Souths side, with Zac Mullane moving from No.10 to No.12 and Darren Kapene getting his chance at flyhalf.

Parramatta will see this as a golden opportunity to move clear of Penrith at the bottom of the table, but will have to overcome a pointscoring drought which has seen the Two Blues average just twelve points per game since the halfway point of the competition.

Southern Districts: 1. Guy Shepherdson, 2. John Ulugia, 3. Dan Palmer; 4. Matt Trouville, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Jono Hayes, 7. Tim McGann, 8. Mick Kauter; 9. Nathan Sievert, 10. Darren Kapene; 11. Brackin Henry, 12. Zac Mullane, 13. Chris Kerr, 14. Jackson Mullane; 15. Matt Raftrey.
Parramatta: 1. Vai Filimoehala, 2. Scott Podmore, 3. Tor Killman; 4. Sam Evalu, 5. Andrew Cox [c]; 6. Winney Paulo, 7. Jeremy Bird, 8. Maile Latukefu; 9. Bryce Alley, 10. Aaron Mattin; 11. Areta Lama, 12. Piripi Ranga, 13. Junior Kolikata, 14. Richie Williams; 15. Ben Borg.
Referee: Steve Walsh
Last Meeting: Round 9 - Southern Districts 43 d Parramatta 9 at Forshaw Rugby Park



WARRINGAH (7th) V WEST HARBOUR (8th) at Pittwater Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Finals hopes are on the line at Pittwater Rugby Park when Warringah face West Harbour in a match which will go a long way to deciding the overall fate of both sides.

West Harbour currently sit seven points outside the top six and will need to win their last three matches to have any hope of being around in September. Their hopes have been boosted by the return of 63-Test Wallaby Lote Tuqiri, the recent comeback of speedster Nick Riley and the inclusion of Brumbies prop Salesi Ma'afu.

Brett Sheehan is back in the No.9 jersey for the Rats this week and will resurrect his partnership with fellow Perth-bound inside back Sam Harrius, while Josh Holmes pushes out to the centres where he has surprised many with his versatility.

If the Rats can overcome the Pirates and Uni also win, Warringah will be in the top six with their playoff destiny in their own hands over the final two rounds against Easts and Souths.

Warringah: 1. Dan Raymond, 2. Luke Holmes, 3. Dan Barnard; 4. Hugh Pyle, 5. Chris Thomson; 6. Brent Murphy, 7. Beau Robinson [c], 8. Trevor Richardson; 9. Brett Sheehan, 10. Sam Harris; 11. Dylan Smouha, 12. Josh Holmes, 13. Haig Sare, 14. Jordon Macey; 15. Pat McCabe.West Harbour: 1.Campese Ma'afu, 2. Todd Pearce, 3. Salesi Ma'afu; 4. Tom Hikila, 5. Andrew Clyne; 6. Ben Lonsdale, 7. Mark Porpiglia, 8. Isaiah Pine; 9. Steve Massey, 10. Jai Ayoub; 11. Lote Tuqiri, 12. Henry Seavula, 13. Metui Maile, 14. John Sinisa; 15. Nick Reily.
Referee: James Leckie
Last Meeting: Round 9 - West Harbour 19 d Warringah 13 at Concord Oval





Sunday 16 August 2009
GORDON (6th) V MANLY (2nd) at Chatswood Oval (3:00pm)
Gordon are precariously place in the top six but have the opportunity to make their position more secure when they meet Manly in the Sunday game at Chatswood Oval.

Two losses in the last three weeks have seen the Highlanders slip to sixth place on equal points with Warringah, only remaining in the top six due to a superior number of matches won.

The Marlins are also keen to win this weekend which would guarantee a place in the finals. With tough matches against Eastwood and Sydney University to follow in the last two rounds, Manly need to come away from their last three matches with at least four competition points to secure a spot in the semis.

Gordon: 1.Ofa Fainga'anuku, 2. Tobius Gukibau, 3. Lamarn Ma'a; 4. Nifo Nifo, 5. Ed Gower [c]; 6. Paulie Tuala, 7. Craig Thomas, 8. Viliame Ratu; 9. Justin Turner, 10. Josh Kiel; 11. Terry Preston, 12. Dave Harvey, 13. Mark Preston, 14. Matt McDougall; 15. Dane Haylett-Petty.
Manly: 1. James Lakepa, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Tim Fairbrother; 4. Will Munsie, 5. Ryan Melrose; 6. Cristobal Westenenk, 7. Will Brame, 8. Mark Fisher; 9. Chris Cottee, 10. Ben Seymour; 11. Leon Bott, 12. Brian Sefanaia, 13. Luke Johnson, 14. Lui Siale; 15. Adam D'Arcy.
Referee: Steve Hardy
Last Meeting: Round 9 - Manly 7 d Gordon 3 at Manly Oval


Saturday 22 August 2009 - Randwick (3rd) v Eastwood (4th) at Coogee Oval





REPRESENTATIVE PLAYERS FEATURED THIS ROUND
HSBC Waratahs: Dave Dennis (Sydney University), Phil Waugh (Sydney University), Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University), Tom Carter (Sydney University), Kurtley Beale (Northern Suburbs), Dan Palmer (Southern Districts), Beau Robinson (Warringah), Josh Holmes (Warringah).

HSBC Junior Waratahs (Professional): Kane Douglas (Southern Districts), Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University), Ofa Fainga'anuku (Gordon).

Brumbies: Matt Toomua (Eastern Suburbs), Andrew Smith (Northern Suburbs), Guy Shepherdson (Southern Districts), John Ulugia (Southern Districts), Pat McCabe (Warringah), Salesi Ma'afu (West Harbour).

Western Force: Matt Hodgson (Eastern Suburbs), Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs), Ben McCalman (Sydney University), Josh Tatupu (Southern Districts), Luke Holmes (Warringah), Brett Sheehan (Warringah), Sam Harris (Warringah), Haig Sare (Warringah), Dane Haylett-Petty (Gordon).

Australian Sevens (2008/09): Dane Haylett-Petty (Gordon), Brian Sefanaia (Manly), Ben McCalman (Sydney University).

Australian U20s: Matt Toomua (Eastern Suburbs), Dane Haylett-Petty (Gordon), Sam Latunipulu (Northern Suburbs), Corey Brown (Northern Suburbs), Kurtley Beale (Northern Suburbs), Kane Douglas (Southern Districts).

Watched my first Shute Shield game, Easts & Uni, but I only caught the last 10 minutes of it. Uni won 16-12, they came close to a try with 3 minutes to go but Jerry Yanuyanutawa lost it forward.
Toomua had a great last 10 minutes (not sure about the rest of the game), Crossy cut his hair off and got East's first try. Him and Hodgo were in the thick of it for the last 10.
Phil Waugh had a blood nose as per expectation. Ben McCalman had a bit of blood too and then they interviewed him. Glad we have him on our books for next year!

Northern Suburbs beat Penrith 57-19, Warringah beat West Harbour 23-16 and Southern Districts beat Parramatta 47-12

Wish they showed our premiership grade games on tv :( never the less its good to see club rugby getting shown.