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Tooheys New Shute Shield :: Round 14 Preview
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Friday, 16 July 2010
NSWRU Media Unit
Round 14 of the Tooheys New Shute Shield doubles as local derby round with some of the most passionate contests this season expected to be played out tomorrow afternoon.
Warringah half Josh Holmes.
Warringah half Josh Holmes. [2010 Tooheys New Shute Shield Round 9 - Warringah v Eastern Suburbs; Pittwater Rugby Park; 12/6/10]
Top of the list is the Bayfield Cup clash between Warringah and Manly at Rat Park which has been heightened by moving all Colts matches to Narrabeen as well. Eastern Suburbs will be in for a tough contest against Randwick while Uni have their work cut out to crack the top six against competition leaders Randwick. West Harbour will be desperate against Eastwood following last weekend's late loss, Norths and Gordon never give each other an inch and Parramatta seem to be edging closer to their first win and have a good chance against Penrith.
Warringah (6th) v Manly (2nd) at Pittwater Rugby Park (3:10pm, ABC TV)
The Warringah-Manly rivalry is one of the fiercest in Sydney club Rugby and with much on the line for both teams, fans can expect a high-octane showdown at Rat Park in the ABC TV Game of the Day.
Manly is one of the form sides of the competition and have moved to within two points of the competition lead. A win for the Marlins could see them move to the top of the ladder if Uni can overcome Souths, however they will need to get the job done first.
Powerhouse wing Nemani Nadolo is back for Manly, while the centre pairing of Tyrone Smith and Brian Sefanaia has the potential to cause plenty of damage around the midfield for the Rats.
Warringah's recent success has been the result of dominant forward play and their hopes of remaining in the top six this weekend rest in the same place. Josh Holmes has been in great form at scrumhalf with Manly's close-in defence sure to keep an eye on the NSW No.9's sniping runs.
Pressure will be on both flyhalves in this all-important clash with Brett Sheehan (suspended) and Ben Seymour (ankle) still on the sidelines. Hamish Angus has had little experience in the top grade for Warringah, while Manly's No.10 Mark Swanepoel is more comfortable at scrumhalf.
This is a match where the big names need to step up, and with plenty of rep stars on the field a big crowd is expected to be on hand to see it.
Warringah: 1. Pek Cowan, 2. Luke Holmes, 3. Richard Southern; 4. Brent Murphy, 5. Tom Hockings; 6. Beau Robinson, 7. Michael Lipman [c], 8. Trevor Richardson; 9. Josh Holmes, 10. Hamish Angus; 11. Joelin Rapana, 12. Sam Harris, 13. Josh Toole, 14. Dylan Smouha; 15. Pat McCabe.
Manly: 1. Eddie Aholelei, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Tim Fairbrother; 4. Dylan Sigg, 5. Greg Peterson; 6. Will Brame [c], 7. Chris Westekenk, 8. Tevita Metuisela; 9. Chris Cottee, 10. Mark Swanepoel; 11. Lui Siale, 12. Tyrone Smith, 13. Brian Sefanaia, 14. Nemani Nadolo; 15. Adam D'Arcy.
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore
Northern Suburbs (9th) v Gordon (10th) at North Sydney Oval (3:00pm)
Adam Ashley-Cooper is making a rare appearance for the Shoremen in their local derby against Gordon tomorrow and could play vital role in the all-important clash at North Sydney Oval.
With Cameron Shepherd also named in the Norths back three, there is the possibility the pair of Wallaby squad members could find themselves playing alongside each other again next weekend in a gold jersey against the Springboks in Brisbane.
Gordon has taken a tumble down the rankings in 2010 and their lack of form against teams higher than them on the ladder has been the critical element to their demise. The Highlanders have won just two of their last nine fixtures and they were against Parramatta and Penrith, the only sides behind them on the ladder. Josh Keil makes a welcome return to the Gordon No.10 jersey after making his Samoan Test debut from the bench against Japan last month.
Similarly, Norths have only won three of their last ten matches - two of them against Parramatta and Penrith - however a recent victory over West Harbour and the ability to provide a scare to the likes of Souths, Warringah, Easts and Randwick has made many teams wary of the red and blacks.
On a positive note, both teams are still mathematical possibilities of making the top six,and a run of wins over the next month could see either side remain in contention for a playoff spot.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Dave Goulter, 2. Scott Podmore, 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. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Chris Burnett, 13. James Lew, 14. Cam Crawford; 15. Cameron Shepherd.
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.
Referee: Andrew Lees
West Harbour (8th) v Eastwood (3rd) at Concord Oval (3:00pm)
Wallaby prop Benn Robinson is expected to make his first appearance since May when Eastwood travel to Concord Oval to take on West Harbour.
Robinson re-fractured his arm in the HSBC Waratahs' second last round of the Super 14 against the Chiefs and while not named by the Woodies this week, the Test prop has publicly indicated his willingness to take the field on Saturday in preparation for the Wallabies' Tri-Nations opener in Brisbane next weekend.
Lachie Turner left the field with a hand injury in Eastwood's big win over Norths last weekend and has not been named in the starting XV.
While Eastwood is within five points of the competition lead and the Pirates have dropped out of the top six, this match is expected to be a tough battle. The Pirates only have one draw to show from their last month of football following tight losses to Souths and Easts, a four-try-all loss to Norths and a deadlock with Warringah. Had the bounce of the ball gone their way in a couple of those fixtures, Wests position on the table could be a lot different going into the last nine rounds of the regular season.
After a stellar performance from the bench last week, Australian Sevens rep Sam Latunipulu has been named to start at flanker for the Pirates.
West Harbour: 1. Campese Ma'afu, 2. Todd Pearce, 3. Vaughan Lomax; 4. Steve Mafi, 5. Tom Hikila; 6. Sione Tau, 7. Sam Latunipulu, 8. David Fungalei; 9. David Fong, 10. Jai Ayoub; 11. Tito Mua, 12. Lester Salanoa, 13. Rory Sidey, 14. Macquire Tatola; 15. Dave Paurini.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Keiran Longbottom; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Jared Hanna; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Locky McCaffrey; 9. James Stannard, 10. James Foote; 11. Nathan Brecht, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Michael MacDougall, 14. John Grant; 15. Ben Batger.
Referee: Julian Pritchard (WA)
Southern Districts (1st) v Sydney University (7th) at Forshaw Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Southern Districts are in danger of giving up top spot on the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder if they cannot get the better of an improving Sydney Uni outfit at Forshaw Rugby Park.
The Rebels have sat stop the table since round four however now find themselves in a battle for the minor premiership with Manly and Eastwood who are both within five points of the front-runners. Souths have lost to both of those sides - their only two losses of the season - within the last three weeks but will be hoping to turn that around with their third victory over the Students in their last four encounters.
However they will have to do it without Reds lock Radike Samo (suspended) and former Brumbies hooker John Ulugia (pectoral) which will be a big challenge against one of the strongest packs in the comp.
Uni seem to be on the improve and are knocking on the door of the top six, however three of their past four wins have come against the bottom three teams on the ladder making it hard to read too much into their form. In fact, just one of their six wins this season - a three-point win against Manly five weeks ago - has come against a team ranked ahead of them on the ladder.
While the Students side is still strong on paper they are a side still not at full strength with Phil Waugh, Daniel Halangahu, Berrick Barnes, Luke Burgess, Alfi Mafi, Dean Mumm and Ben McCalman all out of action this week.
Southern Districts: 1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. Sam Zlatevski, 3. Nic Henderson; 4. Rome Nifo, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Matt Trouville, 7. Sean Doyle, 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.
Sydney University: 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Jeremy Tilse; 4. Sam Carter, 5. Dave McDuling; 6. Dave Dennis, 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.
Referee: Simon Moore (QLD)
Parramatta (12th) v Penrith (11th) at Granville Park (3:00pm)
Parramatta's best opportunity for victory in 2010 comes at home this weekend when the Two Blues meet Penrith at Granville Park in the battle of the west.
The return of Tatafu Polota-Nau proved inspirational for Parramatta last weekend while they are also showing far more potency in attack with the inclusion of 38-Test Tongan international Pierre Hola and former Italy Sevens rep Steve Bortolussi. The Two Blues were within nine points of the Students at half time last week and were just six points behind Manly with ten minutes to go the week before, showing they aren't too far away from a breakthrough win.
The Emus on the other hand have tailed off in recent weeks after providing scares to many of the leading lights in the competition. In particular, the Penrith defence has gone off the boil conceding 204 points in the last three rounds.
Just five points separated these two teams when they met in April, and with bragging rights on the line for another year this match is set to be far more exciting than their positions on the table may indicate.
Parramatta: 1.Richard Just, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3. Lui Sakaria; 4. Ryan Aniseko, 5. Sam Evalu; 6. Maile Latekefu, 7. Andrew Cox [c], 8. William Tuitupou; 9. Lua Vailoaloa, 10. Pierre Hola; 11. Brendan Lane, 12. John Fonua, 13. Tom Woods, 14. Moses Tavola; 15. Steve Bortolussi.
Penrith: 1. Dave Coventry, 2. John Aho, 3. Toa Asa; 4. Johnny Smith, 5. Richard Aho; 6. Chris Aho, 7. Winnie Paulo, 8. Vili Napa'a; 9. Lee Pula, 10. Stan Tuionuku; 11. Davo Alo, 12. Tawhiri Walsh, 13. Henry Lilomaiava, 14. Filipo Toala; 15. Luke Cross [c].
Referee: Angus Gardner
Eastern Suburbs (4th) v Randwick (5th) at Woollahra Oval (3:00pm)
A solitary competition point separates Easts and Randwick on the competition ladder and their clash at Woollahra Oval is set to be just as tight.
Their round three encounter at Coogee was a largely one-sided affair with Brendan McKibbin putting in a dominant display as Easts consolidated their top spot on the ladder with a bonus point win.
However the stage set this time around could not be more different with just three members of Randwick's starting XV from that day turning out at Woollahra tomorrow afternoon. Significantly, in-form backs Drew Mitchell, Kurtley Beale and Nick Cummins have been named in an exciting backline which also includes Wallaby half Josh Valentine and Western Force recruit Gene Fairbanks.
Eastern Suburbs have named an unchanged team from the side which scored a last-minute victory over West Harbour last weekend. The inclusion of Huia Edmonds and Matt Hodgson will no doubt help to provide a great battle up front with the likes of Sekope Kepu, Lala Lam and Ben Mowen, while Ryan Cross and Damon Anderson provide plenty of opportunities out wide for the Beasts.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Ofa Fainga'anuku, 2. Huia Edmonds, 3. Guy Shepherdson; 4. Phil Mathers, 5. Ed Brenac; 6. Matt Hodgson, 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.
Randwick: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. John Fonokalafi, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Dave Parsons, 5. Steve Brennan; 6. Seilala Lam, 7. Dave Vizer, 8. Ben Mowen; 9. Josh Valentine, 10. Brent Kelly; 11. Drew Mitchell, 12. Gene Fairbanks, 13. Nick Cummins, 14. Bevu Tuqiri; 15. Kurtley Beale.
Referee: Stephen Hill (QLD)