End of the road for Eastwood, Manly
Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:16
It is the end of the road for Eastwood and Manly, as the six semifinalists for the 2008 Shute Shield have been decided - with results from Round 21 determining the teams which will do battle for this year's title.
West Harbour's victory over Penrith ended Eastwood and Manly's outside chances of making the top six, while Gordon's victory over Parramatta and Randwick's loss to Sydney University ensures the Highlanders will join the Students with a week off to start the finals series.
Eastern Suburbs and Warringah are also assured of a play-off berth, however the final positions will be determined in next week's final round.
Week 21 wrap:
Sydney University 32-17 Randwick
Sydney University has ended Randwick's top two aspirations with a 32-17 victory at University Oval No.1.
Daniel Halangahu set up two tries and scored one of his own on the way to a personal haul of 17 points, starring for the Students in their 19th victory of the season.
The Students took just two minutes to get on the board, when Halangahu held up a ball to put Ed Jenkins in under the posts. Halangahu converted for an early 7-0 lead.
On the back of a strong wind University continued to dominate field position, and it wasn't long before Halangahu extended the lead with a penalty in the seventh minute.
Randwick then clicked into gear, however the renowned University defence stayed strong and the Students were able to clear themselves of danger. On the back of the strong defensive effort University received another penalty within kicking range in the 20th minute and Halangahu made it 13-0.
The Students went further ahead on 29 minutes when Halangahu set up University's second try, this time judging a perfect cross-field kick in the tricky wind conditions for Nick Edwards who touched down.
Halangahu duly converted for a 20-0 lead with ten minutes remaining in the first half.
Randwick dominated the final period of the half, but University continued to defend strongly. However finally the Wicks hit the scoreboard when a quick short ball in the 38th minute put Matt Nethery through a gap, before offloading to Stephen Hoiles and Rodney Voullaire who touched down in centre-field.
Tim Walsh converted to reduce the margin to 13 and that is how the teams went to the break.
The Students started the second half like they did the first, and in the 43rd minute Halangahu continued racking up the points when he muscled over from close range, however failed in the attempt to convert his own try.
University threatened to run away with the match, however somehow Randwick managed to hold on and after their most creative sequence of the game Francis Fainifo scored in the right corner.
Walsh failed with the difficult conversion attempt leaving University with a 25-12 lead going into the final quarter of the match.
Randwick continued to apply the blowtorch but too often dropped crucial ball in attacking positions, and University capitalised with a great breakout try ten minutes from time with Edwards crossing for his second.
Halangahu's conversion took the score to 32-12.
Randwick again attacked and Lotu Taukeiaho crossed for Randwick's third try as the game entered the last five minutes, however again the conversion went wide sniffing out any chance of a last gasp victory.
Scorers:
Sydney University:
Tries: Edwards 2, Jenkins, Halangahu
Cons: Halangahu 3
Pens: Halangahu 2
Randwick:
Tries: Voullaire, Fainfo, Taukeiaho
Con: Walsh
Teams:
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 Lachlan McCutcheon, 4 Al Campbell, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa.
Randwick: 15 Bernie Orbell, 14 Francis Fainifo, 13 Metui Maile, 12 Michael Berne, 11 Ratu Nasiganiyavi, 10 Tim Walsh, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 Rodney Voullaire, 6 Chris Houston (captain), 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Mat Whittleston, 3 Lotu Taukeiaho, 2 Atonio Halangahu, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Referee: Ian Smith
Eastern Suburbs 41-24 Northern Suburbs
Eastern Suburbs have leapt to third on the Shute Shield table and will fight for the position with Randwick next week after accounting for Northern Suburbs 41-24 at Woollahra Oval.
Clyde Rathbone scored a hat-trick for the Beasts while Luke Irwin also bagged a double.
After a hard-fought first half, defence took a back seat in the second stanza with 52 points scored.
The result means that Easts can now finish no worse than fourth going into the semifinals.
Scorers:
Eastern Suburbs:
Tries: Rathbone 3, Irwin 2, Fainga'a, Smith
Cons: Debartolo 3
Northern Suburbs:
Tries: Lynch, Kimlin, Salvi
Cons: Burnett 3
Pen: Burnett
Teams:
Eastern Suburbs: 15 Gavin Debartolo, 14 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 13 Lloyd Jones, 12 Tom Azar, 11 Clyde Rathbone, 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.
Northern Suburbs: 15 Seamus Ross, 14 Anthony Shortis, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Codie Medway, 11 Dan Watson-Wood, 10 Chris Burnett, 9 Tom Burnett, 8 Julian Salvi, 7 Will Hunt (captain), 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Tyler Hotson, 4 Anthony Reed, 3 Tim Archibald, 2 Al Manning, 1 Joey Lynch.
Referee: Andrew Lees
Gordon 43-29 Parramatta
Gordon has secured a week off to start the finals after a 43-29 victory over Parramatta at Chatswood Oval.
With Randwick going down to Sydney University, the Highlanders are now six points clear of Eastern Suburbs and will have a rest after their last round clash with Northern Suburbs.
Gordon won the match in the first half, streaking away to a 31-12 lead at the break. While the Highlanders were outpointed in the second half for the second week in a row, they had enough of a buffer to secure the bonus point victory.
Dave Harvey scored 18 points and Sisa Waqa nabbed a double for the Highlanders, while Tito Mua scored two of Parramatta's five tries on the Two Blues' way to a bonus point.
Scorers:
Gordon:
Tries: Waqa 2, Harvey, Tuala, Seale, Nicol
Cons: Harvey 5
Pen: Harvey
Parramatta:
Tries: Mua 2, Kaveinga, Alo, Woods
Cons: Woods, Murphy
Teams:
Gordon: 15 Mark Preston, 14 Sisa Waqa, 13 Sinclair Fischer-Grey, 12 Billy Rainima, 11 Terry Preston, 10 Dave Harvey, 9 Vinnie Byrne, 8 Billy Ratu, 7 Craig Thomas, 6 Paulie Tuala, 5 Kingsley Seale, 4 Nifo Nifo, 3 Steve Taylor, 2 Nath Nicol, 1 Ofa Fainga'anuku.
Parramatta: 15 Ben Borg, 14 Tito Mua, 13 Brian Sefanaia, 12 Dave Alo, 11 Roland Herea, 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 Scott Podmore, 1 Kris Zvirbulis.
Referee: James Leckie
Penrith 66-41 West Harbour
West Harbour has secured a place in the 2008 Shute Shield finals series after scoring a 66-41 victory over Penrith in a try-fest at Nepean Rugby Park.
The Pirates scored ten tries to seven, with skipper Ben Martin scoring 19 points.
West Harbour set up victory in the first half, going into the break with a 42-17 lead. The Emus never gave up however, scoring 24-all with the Pirates in the second half in an entertaining 107-point match.
Scorers:
West Harbour:
Tries: Massey 2, Raymond 2, Ma'afu, Lonsdale, King, Sinisa, Martin, Ma'afu
Cons: Martin 7, Massey
Penrith:
Tries: Winton, Williams, Su'a, Rolfe, Paulo, Mekuri, Lilomaiava
Cons: Su'a 3
Teams:
Penrith: 15 Solomona Fainifo, 14 Henry Lilomaiava, 13 Patrick Mekuri, 12 Sia'a Taveuveu, 11.Nick Richardson, 10 Jono Rolfe (captain), 9 Jeremy Su'a, 8 Luke Williams, 7 Rodney Ma'a, 6 Lai Vatadroka, 5 Liam Winton, 4 Shemaiah Evans, 3 Nick Barber, 2 Elvis Levi, 1 Dave Coventry.
West Harbour: 15 Ben Martin (captain), 14 John Sinisa, 13 Lester Salanoa, 12 David Tautaoilefue, 11 Nick Reily, 10 Dave Paurini, 9 Steve Massey, 8 Isaiah Pine, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James King, 5 Ben Lonsdale, 4 Damian Lloyd, 3 Luke Hunter, 2 Ben Roberts, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Referee: Daniel Cheever
Eastwood 48-35 Manly
Eastwood scored a 48-35 bonus point victory over Manly at TG Millner Field, however with West Harbour defeating Penrith the Woods cannot qualify for the finals.
Eastwood muscled their way to a 13-7 lead in the first 40 minutes, however the floodgates opened after the break in a 63-point second half.
Josh Holmes continued his impressive try-scoring form with another double, while Ben Batger scored 23 points for the Woods.
Manly earned a bonus point from their five tries and will now finish in eighth position regardless of next week's result against Warringah.
Scorers:
Eastwood:
Tries: Holmes 2, Daff, Batger, Grant, Rokobaro
Cons: Batger 6
Pens: Batger 2
Manly:
Tries: Siale, Sigg, Fisher, Bott, D'Arcy
Cons: D'Arcy 5
Teams:
Eastwood: 15 John Grant, 14 Ben Batger, 13 Rowan Kellam, 12 Hugh Perrett (captain), 11 Nick Batger, 10 Simon Daff, 9 Josh Holmes, 8 Josh Dunning, 7 Ben Coridas, 6 Gareth Palamo, 5 Phil Mathers, 4 Marty Wilson, 3 Aaron Broughton-Rouse, 2 Chris Hill, 1 Simon Norris.
Manly: 15 Adam D'Arcy, 14 Lupini Siale, 13 Tyrone Smith, 12 Luke Johnson, 11 Leon Bott, 10 Stephen Locke, 9 Paul Sheedy, 8 Mark Fisher, 7 Will Brame, 6 Daniel Collins, 5 Dylan Sigg, 4 Sean Maloney, 3 James Lakepa, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Reuben Bijl (captain).
Referee: Nathan Pearce
Warringah 34-10 Southern Districts
Warringah is still a chance of finishing in the top four after defeating Southern Districts 34-10 at Pittwater Rugby Park.
In-form second rower Scott Fardy scored a hat-trick for the Rats, while Michael Ruthven collected two tries.
The Rats scored 17 points in each half, and while the Rebels did well to contain Warringah in the early stages they were shut out in the second forty.
Scorers:
Warringah:
Tries: Fardy 3, Ruthven 2, McCabe
Cons: Ruthven, Eadie
Southern Districts:
Try: Stephens
Con: Black
Pen: Black
Teams:
Warringah: 15 Mark Gerrard, 14 Shaun Killian, 13 Pat McCabe, 12 Brock McGarity, 11 Ed Doyle, 10 Michael Ruthven, 9 Scott Bradley, 8 Ross Duncan, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Andrew Rasmus, 5 Scott Flint, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Dave Mason, 1 Dan Raymond (captain).
Southern Districts: 15 Michael Black, 14 Michael Ashby, 13 Matt Trouville, 12 Michael McLeod, 11 Luke Milton, 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.
Referee: James Scholtens
