Preview: Shute Shield, Round 19
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:59
One of Randwick's favourite sons will make a welcome return to the Shute Shield, when Morgan Turinui turns out against Warringah at Pittwater Rugby Park in Round 19 of the competition.
The Australia A captain and Reds centre is one of a number of representative players in an impressive Randwick line-up looking to hit back after a shock loss to Parramatta last week.
Timana Tahu (West Harbour), Stephen Hoiles (Randwick), Matt Dunning (Eastwood), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta) and Ben Alexander (Northern Suburbs) are all back from Wallaby duty and will be looking for strong performances to push their Test claims.
With just four rounds remaining before the finals, Round 19 is shaping up as a crucial one as teams within the top six jockey for positions while those on the fringe are playing sudden death football.
All the weekend's action!
Warringah (5th) v Randwick (3rd)
Pittwater Rugby Park - 15.10 (05.10
GMT)
Randwick have a star-studded line-up looking to hit back from a last round loss but will have a tough task on their hands when they meet Warringah at Pittwater Rugby Park.
The Rats have won five of their last six clashes including a last start victory over Eastwood in which they scored 53 points against a side desperate to keep their finals campaign alive.
The win took Warringah into a share of fourth, and with a team boasting Super 14 squad members Salesi Ma'afu, Scott Fardy, Beau Robinson and Brett Sheehan along with Australian Sevens representatives Ross Duncan and Willie Bishop, they are a formidable side hitting form near the finals.
Randwick this week bring in two more internationals, with Morgan Turinui returning to play for his beloved club side, while Stephen Hoiles also returns as the fifth Super Rugby player in the Wicks' pack.
While on paper Randwick look extremely strong, Parramatta's victory over them last week will give Warringah a wealth of confidence, and on the back of the Rats' recent form all the ingredients auger for a fantastic match.
Teams:
Warringah: 15 Pat McCabe, 14 Willie Bishop, 13 Clint Eadie, 12 Brock McGarity, 11 Ed Doyle, 10 Michael Ruthven, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Andrew Rasmus, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Ross Duncan, 5 Scott Flint, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 4 Scott Fardy, 2 Dave Mason, 1 Dan Raymond (captain).
Randwick: 15 Matt Nethery, 14 Francis Fainifo, 13 Metui Maile, 12 Morgan Turinui, 11 Ratu Nasiganiyavi, 10 Josh Valentine, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 Ben Mowen, 6 Chris Houston, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Mat Whittleston, 3 Lotu Taukeiaho, 2 Adam Freier (captain), 1 Sekope Kepu.
Referee: Julian Pritchard
West Harbour (6th) v Eastern Suburbs (4th)
Concord Oval - 15.00 (05.00 GMT)
West Harbour have slipped down the premiership ladder in recent weeks and need to turn around their form against Eastern Suburbs at Concord Oval.
Strengthening the Pirates' line-up will be Timana Tahu, fresh from a week off after making his Wallaby debut against the All Blacks.
West Harbour have lost four of their last six clashes, however having beaten Easts 36-14 in their round seven meeting the Pirates will be targeting this match to get their season back on track.
On the other hand Eastern Suburbs are in a rich vein of form, winning their last six and averaging over 42 points per game in their recent run.
Teams:
West Harbour: 15 Ben Martin (captain), 14 John Sinisa, 13 Rory Sidey, 12 Timana Tahu, 11 Nick Reily, 10 Dave Paurini, 9 Brady Engert, 8 Isaiah Pine, 7 Mark Porpiglia, 6 Chris Aho, 5 Ben Lonsdale, 4 Damian Lloyd, 3 Luke Hunter, 2 Ben Roberts, 1 Michael Rigney.
Eastern Suburbs: 15 Gavin Debartolo, 14 Pat Smith, 13 Lloyd Jones, 12 Tom Azar, 11 John Collignon, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Luke Irwin, 8 Richard Stanford, 7 Tim McGann, 6 Ed Brenac, 5 Matt McGann, 4 Tom Egan (captain), 3 Rob McMicken, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Aaron Tawera.
Referee: Nathan Pearce
Manly (8th) v Gordon (2nd)
Manly Oval - 15.00 (05.00 GMT)
After a big loss to Sydney University in Round 17, Gordon ran themselves back into form against Souths last week and will be looking to continue that when they travel to Manly Oval to take on the Marlins.
Manly have shown patches of form in recent weeks but some interesting changes have been made after the Marlins failed to score a try against Eastern Suburbs last week.
Josh Gamgee has shifted in to scrumhalf and will look to strike up a No.9/No.10 partnership with Tyrone Smith who will fill the unfamiliar role of flyhalf, while former Brisbane Broncos flyer Leon Bott comes onto the wing.
Gordon's consistent line-up again has a familiar look about it, however Vili Napa'a is in at No.6 for captain Ed Gower.
The Highlanders moved into second last week, leapfrogging Randwick who were upset by the Two Blues, and will be looking to use this match as the next step in securing a top two position.
Teams:
Manly: 15 Adam D'Arcy, 14 Lupini Siale, 13 Luke Johnson, 12 Anthony Barrett, 11 Leon Bott, 10 Tyrone Smith, 9 Josh Gamgee, 8 Mark Fisher, 7 Will Brame, 6 Daniel Collins, 5 Toby Martin, 4 Pat Maile, 3 James Lakepa, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Reuben Bijl (captain).
Gordon: 15 Mark Preston, 14 Sisa Waqa, 13 Matt MacDougall, 12 Billy Rainima, 11 Terry Preston, 10 Dave Harvey, 9 Vinnie Byrne, 8 Viliame Ratu, 7 Craig Thomas, 6 Vili Napa'a, 5 Kingsley Seale, 4 Nifo Nifo, 3 Steve Taylor, 2 Alex Gluth, 1 Ofa Fainga'anuku.
Referee: George Ayoub
Southern Districts (12th) v Penrith (11th)
Forshaw Rugby
Park - 15.00 (05.00)
The bottom two teams in the competition will do battle at Forshaw Rugby Park with Southern Districts looking for just their second win of the season.
Thanks to bonuses, Penrith are eight points clear of Southern Districts however the Rebels have the opportunity to close the gap and break a 15-game losing streak by overcoming the Emus.
Penrith won their Round 7 clash 24-15, however after conceding almost a point per minute over the last three weeks will need to turn it all around to overcome Southern Districts.
Teams:
Southern Districts: 15 Michael Black, 14 Luke Milton, 13 Matt Trouville, 12 Michael McLeod, 11 Ben Rigon, 10 Matt Adair, 9 Tim Small, 8 James McCormack (captain), 7 Terry Autagavia, 6 Israel Stephens, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Grant Trouville, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Dan Palmer, 1 Nic Henderson.
Penrith: 15 Patrick Mekuri, 14 Henry Lilomaiava, 13 Sia'a Taveuveu, 12 Mike Paulo, 11 Nick Richardson, 10 Jono Rolfe (captain), 9 Jeremy Su'a, 8 Luke Williams, 7 Rob Carlson, 6 Rodney Ma'a, 5 Liam Winton, 4 Shemaiah Evans, 3 Nick Barber, 2 Elvis Levi, 1 Dave Coventry.
Referee: Andrew Lees
Eastwood (7th) v Sydney University (1st)
TG Millner Field - 15.00 (05.00 GMT)
Eastwood's season is not quite yet over however their chances of making the semifinals don't get any easier when they take on Sydney University at TG Millner Field.
The Woods have been bolstered by the return of the Dunning brothers, with Matt returning from Wallaby duty while Josh is back from injury.
Sydney University also have a couple of changes with Brumbies lock Al Campbell returning, Daniel Halangahu is back at No.10 while exciting young wing Nick Edwards gets a chance after scoring a try last week.
If Eastwood cannot pull off an upset on Saturday, they will need other results to go their way to keep their semifinal chances alive.
Teams:
Eastwood: 15 Ben Batger, 14 John Grant, 13 Rowan Kellam, 12 Tim Corcoran, 11 Filipo Toala, 10 Barney Wood, 9 Josh Holmes, 8 Josh Dunning, 7 Hugh Perrett (captain), 6 Seva Rokobaro, 5 Phil Mathers, 4 Marty Wilson, 3 Aaron Broughton-Rouse, 2 Todd Pearce, 1 Matt Dunning.
Sydney University: 15 Nathan Trist, 14 Nick Edwards, 13 Leo Afeaki, 12 Dan P Kelly, 11 Ed Jenkins, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Nick Haydon, 8 Tim Davidson (captain), 7 Tim Aistrope, 6 David Fungalei, 5 Hugh Hawkins, 4 Al Campbell, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa.
Referee: Ian Smith
Northern Suburbs (10th) v Parramatta (9th)
North Sydney Oval - 15.00 (05.00)
These two sides are playing for pride but could produce one of the matches of the round when Northern Suburbs and Parramatta meet at North Sydney Oval.
The Shoremen have brought Waratah utility Sam Norton-Knight closer to the action at flyhalf, while they also see the return to the starting line-up of Ben Alexander and Al Manning in the front row.
However the representative firepower in the Norths side won't intimidate the Two Blues who last week upset a star-studded Randwick side.
Brimming with confidence after that win, Parramatta look even stronger this week with Tatafu Polota-Nau returning to hooker and have the potential to move into eighth should they get the right result.
Teams:
Northern Suburbs: 15 Corey Brown, 14 Anthony Shortis, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Chris Burnett, 11 Dan Watson-Wood, 10 Sam Norton-Knight, 9 James Price, 8 Julian Salvi, 7 David Maunsell, 6 Will Hunt (captain), 5 Peter Kimlin, 4 Tyler Hotson, 3 Tim Archibald, 2 Al Manning, 1 Ben Alexander.
Parramatta: 15 Ben Borg, 14 Brian Sefanaia, 13 Paula Kaveinga, 12 Dave Alo, 11 Tito Mua, 10 Tom Woods, 9 Luke Tabatoa, 8 Junior To'o, 7 Winney Paulo, 6 Andrew Cox, 5 Steve Mafi, 4 Andrew Brown (captain), 3 Matt Toli, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Kris Zvirbulis.
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore
