3rd XV Round 5 Preview
With just three rounds to go we are getting to the business end of the season. The two currently undefeated teams – Joeys and Riverview – will meet in the final round but a lot can happen between now and then. This week, Kings host Joeys in a must-win match for the sky blue. Grammar travel to Armidale to play TAS, Scots host Riverview at Bellevue Hill and Shore host High at Northbridge. It looks like being a really wet weekend so let's hope all the games get played.
Kings 3rd XV v Joeys 3rd XV (1:00pm on JS White Oval)
What a match this promises to be as the undefeated Joeys team travels to Kings keen to keep their unbeaten record intact. For Kings it is virtually a grand final following their loss to Riverview last week. A win keeps the sky blue in the premiership race, but a loss is certainly the end of their season. I think that Joeys would prefer a dry track, given the open running game that they have played so effectively in the open rounds, but they will still start favourites here and I expect them to remain undefeated heading into the last two rounds. What a cracker of a match it will be.
Joeys by 7.
Scots 3rd XV v Riverview 3rd XV (1:00pm on Scots Main)
While Scots are four points behind Riverview on the competition table, they cannot be dismissed in this match at Bellevue Hill. Scots had a good close win against Shore last round and Riverview are coming off an impressive win over Kings so this will be a great contest. I expect that Riverview will prove too strong for Scots in this match, but it is likely to be a close score.
Riverview by 5.
TAS 1st XV v Grammar 1st XV (11:00am on TAS Backfield)
This fixture is always a great event as the two 1st XV teams from The Armidale School and Sydney Grammar meet. TAS are going well despite close losses to Riverview and Joeys, and they should be confident of notching up another victory at home in this match. Grammar are yet to win a game from four played and will find TAS no easier than recent outings. Regardless, I am sure that it will be a great spectacle on Backfield as always.
TAS by 20.
Shore 3rd XV v High 1st XV (1:00pm on Northbridge #1)
Shore have had a few tough rounds recently and sit on just one win so far this season. They would be very disappointed as the holders of the Col Windon Shield from 2024 and they will be handing it back this year. High have improved significantly from last year but are still yet to record a competition win. I expect that his will go to form as well with a strong Shore win at home.
Shore by 20.
Good luck to all players in Round 5.