Round 5 Preview from nswrugby.com.au
2012 Shute Shield - Round 5 Preview
The 2012 Shute Shield competition rolls into round five this Saturday, with a mouth-watering top six matchup between second-placed Southern Districts and third place Sydney University at Forshaw Rugby Park for the ABC TV game of the day. The round also sees an injury-hit Eastwood up against Gordon at T.G Milner, while Eastern Suburbs will attempt to back up last week's classy display against Parramatta at Woollahra Oval. Top-of-the-table Manly will look to maintain their unbeaten record against Penrith at Nepean Rugby Park, while Randwick look for their first win of the season against Northern Suburbs. Warringah will play host to West Harbour who will be looking to back up last week's win over Penrith at Pittwater Rugby Park.
As usual, you can catch all the Shute Shield action on ABC 1 from 3pm every Saturday afternoon in NSW and the ACT. For interstate viewers, tune in at 4am on Tuesday mornings nationally on ABC 1 for the replay or alternatively you can catch up on ABC Iview.
You can also stay in touch with the Shute Shield on Facebook via
http://www.facebook.com/shuteshield or on
http://www.facebook.com/abcshuteshield where you can catch game highlights and a preview of the upcoming ABC TV match.
Alternatively, follow the Shute Shield on Twitter via @shuteshield or @abcshuteshield where you can send your thoughts through the week and receive live updates during games.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (2) v SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (3) at Forshaw Rugby Park (3pm)
(home side first, current ladder positions in brackets)
Second-placed Southern Districts have named an unchanged side for round five after cruising to victory against Randwick last week. Last week the Rebels' pack showed that they can match the try-scoring ability of their backs, with forwards running in four tries to secure the bonus point. Flanker Sam Latunipulu will be a player to watch as he looks to score his fifth try in as many weeks when the team takes on Sydney University.
The Students got away with a win last week against Gordon and make two changes to their starting side. Halfback David Fong, who scored the last-minute try and booted the sideline conversion to win the game, moves up from the bench in place of regular captain Matt Schwager. HSBC Waratah Nathan Trist comes back into the starting side after missing last week due to injury.
Southern Districts: 1. Marcus Heather, 2. Andrew Sulter, 3. Tim Metcher; 4. Andrew Leota, 5. Jed Holloway; 6. Sean Doyle, 7. Sam Latunipulu, 8. Oliver Stedman; 9. Grayson Hart, 10. Rohan Saifolio; 11. Ben Connolly, 12. Lester Solanoa, 13. Apo Latunipulu, 14. Nicky Price; 15. Brackin Karauria-Henry[c].
Sydney University: 1.Dylan Evans, 2. James Riches, 3. Pieter van der Merwe; 4. Oliver Atkins, 5. Liam Winton; 6. Anthony Pohlen, 7. David Hickey, 8. Trent Dyer; 9. David Fong, 10. Daniel Kelly; 11. Tom English, 12. James McMahon, 13. Michael Hodge, 14. Nathan Trist; 15. Stuart Dunbar.
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore
EASTWOOD (4) v GORDON (7) at T.G Milner (3pm)
Reigning premiers Eastwood will be without flyhalf Pierre Hola and inspirational captain Hugh Perrett when they face a strong Gordon outfit this weekend at T.G Milner. Hola, the Shute Shield's joint top points scorer after round four, suffered a pectoral muscle injury in last week's loss to Eastern Suburbs and will be replaced by Ben James. In great news for club rugby however, Perrett has stepped up to Super Rugby after being signed by the Melbourne Rebels, meaning he is unlikely to play for the Woodies until the conclusion of the FxPro Super Rugby season. In other changes, lock Steve Cummins and winger Nick Batger come into the starting side while Barney Woods replaces fullback Shane Collins, who scored a great try last week.
Gordon name a relatively unchanged side for round five with halfback Hamish McGilvray replacing the injured Terry Preston and Michael Manners slotting into the wing after a good performance in second grade last week. The Highlanders' have lost back-to-back games at the death and will need to put on an 80-minute performance if they want to grab a win over Eastwood.
Eastwood: 1. Marty Plokstys, 2. Chris Hill, 3. Dylan Brass; 4. Mitch Lees, 5. Steve Cummins; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Miles McCaffrey, 8. Jared Barry; 9. Mick Snowden, 10. Ben James; 11. Mark Frost, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Michael McDougall, 14. Nick Batger; 15. Barney Woods.
Gordon: 1. Aritema Ralulu, 2. Ron Hobden, 3. Tobias Gukibau[c]; 4. Roni Scarano, 5. Mark Johnson; 6. Mark Williams, 7. Mitch Greenway, 8. Luke Rissman; 9. Hamish McGilvray, 10. Chris Burnett; 11. Eric Maroni, 12. Tom Hill, 13. Tom Matthews, 14. Michael Manners; 15. Lachlan Mitchell.
Referee: Andrew Lees
EASTERN SUBURBS (5) v PARRAMATTA (6) at Woollarah Oval (3pm)
Eastern Suburbs make only one change to the side that outclassed the reigning premiers last round with prop Clay Brodie coming into the starting side. Helped by the boot of flyhalf Angus Sinclair, the Beasts last week piled on the points to down the reigning premiers away from home. The Beasts will be need to be cautious however, as Parramatta have named an unchanged side, having last week recorded a third straight victory. The Two Blues are playing some great rugby this season, as evidenced in last week's win over Warringah at Merrylands RSL Rugby Park. This game is huge for both sides, as it could determine top six prospects for the rest of the season.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Ofa Fainga'anuku, 2. Heath Tessmann, 3. Clay Brodie; 4. Will Crutchley, 5. Phil Mathers; 6. Richard Stanford, 7. Jordan Brown, 8. Pauliasi Taumoepeau[c]; 9. Luke Irwin, 10. Angus Sinclair; 11. Scott Ferris, 12. Marc Koteczky, 13. Anton Lavin, 14.Charlie Clifton; 15. Apakuki Maafu.
Parramatta: 1. Nicholas Blacklock, 2. Matthew Borg, 3. Mika Polota Nau; 4. Ryan Aniseko, 5. Adam Coleman; 6.Evan Olmstead, 7. Matt White, 8. Andrew Cox[c]; 9. Kaleb Rech, 10. Sam Yakopo; 11. Tui Fa'asisila, 12. Damien Fakafanua,13. Iese Leota, 14. Moses Tavola; 15. Tom Woods
Referee: Edward Martin
PENRITH (12) v MANLY (1) at Nepean Rugby Park (3pm)
Penrith make two positional changes this weekend as they continue their search for a first win of the season. It will be a tough ask to beat competition leaders Manly, who chase their fifth win in a row this weekend.
Sensing their chance to pull clear of the pack, the Marlins have made one change this week, with fullback Damien Reti coming into the starting side after some second grade performances. The Marlins' forward pack had a great showing last round against Northern Suburbs, with notable performances from HSBC Waratah and Manly captain Tevita Metuisela and young flanker Harry Bergelin who grabbed a try of his own.
Penrith: 1. Toa Asa, 2. Keiren Straker, 3. Richard Aho[c]; 4.Tyrone Emelio, 5.Junior Tavalalii; 6. Jason Paseta, 7. David Reopoamo, 8. Kornelio Burgess; 9. Paula Katoa, 10. Fokolulu Taumalolo; 11. Solomona Silipa, 12. Mark Murray, 13. Chris Aunise-Scalan, 14. Wilson Silipa; 15. Fred Tuua.
Manly: 1. Dane Maraki, 2. James Hilterbrand, 3. Eddie Aholelei; 4. Ryan Melrose, 5. Greg Peterson; 6. Harry Bergelin, 7. Jordy Reid, 8. Tevita Metuisela[c]; 9. Max Wood, 10. Marshall Milroy; 11. Richard Hooper, 12. Alex Miles, 13. Oli Samuelu, 14. Sione Ala; 15. Damien Reti.
Referee: Nathan Pearce
NORTHERN SUBURBS (8) v RANDWICK (11) at North Sydney Oval (3pm)
Northern Suburbs make three changes this week as they look to bounce back after going down to Manly last round. Wingers Lachlan Rosengreen and Elih Baillie come into the starting side after games in second grade, while Haydn Wolfsbauer comes back into first grade at fullback.
Randwick are still searching for their first win of the season and name a new look side to take on the Shoremen at North Sydney Oval. In the forwards, prop George Fifita, lock Bryce Speechley, flanker Steve Bennie and No.8 Matthew MacKay all get the call up to first grade, while in the backs Daniel Flemming comes into flyhalf and centre Finau Makamaka returns to the side.
Northern Suburbs: 1. James Smith, 2.Nick Seymour, 3. Nick Lah; 4. Rory Walton, 5. Seti Tafua; 6. Jordan Smiler, 7. Will Brame, 8. AJ Gilbert [c]; 9. Liam Walker, 10. Mitch Walton; 11. Lachlan Rosengreen, 12. Chris Tuatara, 13. Bill Meaks, 14. Elih Baillie; 15. Haydn Wolfsbauer.
Randwick: 1. George Fifita, 2. Patto Noriega, 3. Steven Noriega; 4. Bryce Speechley, 5.David Parsons; 6. Steve Bennie, 7. Tim McGann, 8. Matthew MacKay; 9. James Helliwell, 10. Daniel Flemming; 11. Dominic Bower, 12. Finau Makamaka, 13. Tim Wright, 14. Apaola Tea; 15. Ethan Ford.
Referee: Julian Pritchard
WARRINGAH (9) v WEST HARBOUR (10) at Pittwater Rugby Park (3pm)
Warringah have made a shaky start to the season with a fantastic win over Eastern Suburbs and close losses to Gordon in round one and last week against Parramatta. The Rats will look to get their season back on track against West Harbour, making five changes to their starting side with prop Ray Brown, hooker Luke Holmes, lock Adrian Clements, flanker Mark Porpiglia and wing Elliot Foils coming into the XV.
West Harbour will look for back-to-back wins this week after they got away in a close one against Penrith last round. The Pirates make two changes to their starting side with Dan Corry coming in at flanker with captain Tom Games shifting to No.8, while Joe Tuvitu slots into the wing position.
Warringah: 1. Ray Brown, 2. Luke Holmes, 3.Wayne Borsak; 4.Ben Adams[c] 5. Adrian Clements; 6. Sam Ward, 7. Mark Porpiglia, 8. Jack Tomkins; 9. Tim Donlan, 10. Hamish Angus; 11. Elliot Foils 12. Michael Adams, 13. Edward Doyle, 14. Michael Dalton; 15. David Feltscheer.
West Harbour: 1.Todd Pearce, 2.Paul Ngauamo, 3. Vaughan Lomax; 4. Alfed Pinomi, 5. Tom Patterson; 6. Dan Corry 7. Tom Andrews, 8. Tom Games[c],; 9. Ben Murray, 10. Shaun Treweek; 11. Tito Mua, 12. Nua Alone, 13. Henry Seavula, 14.Joe Tuvitu; 15. Oleni Ngungutau.
Referee: Francisco Pastrana
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Interesting that Randwick have decided not to persist with the "Ethan Ford at 10" experiment. I think that kid has potential, but probably not at 10 at this stage of his career. It will also be interesting to see how young Ben James steps up for Eastwood.
A big ask for the Two Blues this week, but the spirit following the presentation of the Noddy Sawtell trophy last week was obvious, and contagious, and if the squad can build on that we may be be seeing the germination of the long awaited Parra resurgence. But Easts, at Woollahra, is a very big ask.
