The 2009 Shute Shield Season kicks off this weekend and ABC TV Grandstand will be there to bring you Saturday's big clash between Eastwood and Manly.
The match will be broadcast live into NSW on ABC1 from 3pm, with Steve Robilliard and the team bringing you all the action from T.G. Milner Field.
Both teams had disappointing seasons in 2008, failing to make the finals, and will be out to get this year off to the perfect start.
For Eastwood, Season 2009 is all about returning to the summit of Shute Shield rugby, a summit they last reached in 2006 when they claimed the First Grade Premiership with a 17-10 Grand Final victory over Sydney University.
Since then, it's been only disappointment - last year's failure to make the finals coming on the back of 2007's loss in the first round of the finals - and the Woodies will be looking to shrug off their past two years and get back to their best.
Manly will also be looking to put their horror 2008 to rest, and will be particularly keen to reverse the disastrous 0-5 start to last season, starting with a win this weekend. It has been 11 long seasons since the Marlins tasted premiership success, and 2009 may well be the year it returns to Manly Oval?
Can they kick-start 2009 with a win? Or will Westwood get the points and claim the early advantage in the race to the finals? Find out this Saturday on ABC1 from 3pm.
In other Round One action, reigning premiers Sydney Uni clash with Penrith, Parramatta play host to Gordon, Randwick take on West Harbour at Concord Oval, Norths play Warringah and Eastern Suburbs take on Southern Districts at Forshaw Park.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2009/03/shute-shield--1.html
The match will be broadcast live into NSW on ABC1 from 3pm, with Steve Robilliard and the team bringing you all the action from T.G. Milner Field.
Both teams had disappointing seasons in 2008, failing to make the finals, and will be out to get this year off to the perfect start.
For Eastwood, Season 2009 is all about returning to the summit of Shute Shield rugby, a summit they last reached in 2006 when they claimed the First Grade Premiership with a 17-10 Grand Final victory over Sydney University.
Since then, it's been only disappointment - last year's failure to make the finals coming on the back of 2007's loss in the first round of the finals - and the Woodies will be looking to shrug off their past two years and get back to their best.
Manly will also be looking to put their horror 2008 to rest, and will be particularly keen to reverse the disastrous 0-5 start to last season, starting with a win this weekend. It has been 11 long seasons since the Marlins tasted premiership success, and 2009 may well be the year it returns to Manly Oval?
Can they kick-start 2009 with a win? Or will Westwood get the points and claim the early advantage in the race to the finals? Find out this Saturday on ABC1 from 3pm.
In other Round One action, reigning premiers Sydney Uni clash with Penrith, Parramatta play host to Gordon, Randwick take on West Harbour at Concord Oval, Norths play Warringah and Eastern Suburbs take on Southern Districts at Forshaw Park.
http://blogs.abc.net.au/grandstand/2009/03/shute-shield--1.html