Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
NSW Country Eagles v North Harbour Rays
When: Saturday 17 October. Kick-off 4.00pm AEDT
Where: Ann Ashwood Park, Bathurst
Match Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Ed Martin, Charles Hartson
Broadcast Information: foxsports.com.au and FOX SPORTS Now
2015 NSW Country Eagles Form Guide: WLBWLLWL
2015 North Harbour Rays Form Guide: LWLLBLLW
Last Time They Met: 04 September 2014; North Harbour Rays 21 were defeated by NSW Country Eagles 33 at Brookvale Oval, Sydney
Match Notes: Both teams still harbour outside hopes of qualifying for the finals - nothing short of a comfortable victory for either side will likely be enough. Rays flyhalf Hamish Angus is third overall in the competition top points scorers with 77 to his name.
Finals Prospects:
Win: Eagles qualify for a finals berth if they beat the North Harbour Rays with a bonus point and the Stars lose to Melbourne Rising by more than 8 points (no Stars losing BP).
Scenario Two: If the Stars beat the Rising, then any win for the Eagles will see them qualify in 4th position.
Lose or Draw: Gooooone.
Long shot: Rays need to win by more than 44 points with a bonus point (almost a given with a 44 point margin) and hope that the Stars beat Melbourne Rising by more than 8 points (no losing BPO for Rising).
G&GR Preview (@RugbyReg) says: http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-round-9-preview/
Ok, so this game has a bit to play for in it. For the Eagles, they need to beat the Rays with a bonus point and rely on the Rising defeating the Stars without a bonus point to qualify for the finals. Alternatively if the Stars defeat the Rising, then all the Eagles need to do is defeat the Rays to get in. Given the timing of the encounter, a day before the Stars travel to Frankston to battle the Rising, the Eagles will be out to score a win, ideally by three or more tries to secure a bonus point.
The Rays have an outside chance of making the finals too however it is Siberia-like levels of outside. For them to make it they will need to score a bonus point win over the Eagles. Oh and with a margin of at least 44 points. Oh and then hope the Stars beat the Rising and deny them any sort of losing bonus point.
Key Matchups:
Big Tommy Staniforth has been one of the form forwards of the competition in the last month with his damaging runs a feature as well as his physicality at the breakdown. His emergence in this competition shows great promise for Australia’s locking future. Ryan Melrose, of the Rays, doesn’t have the profile of Staniforth but has a been a real work-horse for the Rays since grabbing a starting spot in the latter part of the season. The Rays like to run the ball from anywhere and at anytime, and the no-nonsense Melrose does the hard work to ensure the risky plays come off.
Jarome McKenzie was one of the standouts of the competition for the Greater Sydney Rams last year, scorching the fields across Australia and grabbing the attention of fans of the new competition. A bad injury put the brakes on his follow up year, but after a switch to the NSW Country Eagles and finally back to regaining his full confidence, his try scoring feats have returned. When the Rays lost the electric Alex Northam to an overseas contract, supporters were resigned coping without a key attacking weapon. Since then Josh Porch has jumped at the opportunity of the late call up and showcased his own electric speed and provided the Rams with just another strong finisher out wide.
Teams:
1. Dave FAEO
2. Tom SEXTON
3. Dashville KUATE
4. Nick PALMER
5. Tom STANIFORTH
6. Beau ROBINSON
7. Mark BALDWIN
8. Sam FIGG
9. Mitch SHORT
10. Jono LANCE
11. Charlie CLIFTON
12. Dave HORWITZ
13. Ed STUBBS
14. Jarome McKENZIE
15. Andrew KELLAWAY
16. Peter NAU
17. Dane MARAKI
18. Jerome VAAI
19. Sam LOUSI
20. Will MILLER
21. Pauli TUALA
22. Will FAY
23. Jack PENNINGTON
1. Mitch LEWIS
2. Luke HOLMES (c)
3. Lawrance HUNTING
4. Ruairidh WILSON
5. Ryan MELROSE
6. Harry BERGELIN
7. Boyd KILLINGWORTH
8. Harry RORKE
9. Josh HOLMES
10. Sam LANE
11. John PORCH
12. Reece HODGE
13. Michael ADAMS
14. Tom HILL
15. Hamish ANGUS
16. James WILKINSON
17. Rory O’CONNOR
18. Alex HOLMES / Nick FRASER
19. Cameron TRELOAR
20. Mitch DANIEL
21. Hugh SINCLAIR
22. Tim DONLAN
23. Sione ALA
