Round nine of the Tooheys New Shute Shield takes place on Saturday afternoon, with Northern Suburbs hosting the undefeated Rebels in the ABC TV Game of the Day. There are Super 14 stars returning all over the competition, with much focus will be on Manly in their Sir Roden Cutler Shield defence against Sydney University.
The clash between Gordon and Penrith has been postponed due to wet weather. For the latest wet weather updates of all grades, click here.
Northern Suburbs (6th) v Southern Districts (1st) at North Sydney Oval (3:10pm, ABC TV)
Northern Suburbs will have their work cut out to remain in the top six when they face Southern Districts at North Sydney Oval in the ABC TV Game of the Day.
West Harbour and Sydney University both have the opportunity to move into the top six if the Shoremen cannot score what would be one of the biggest upsets of the season.
The Rebels have scored 39 out of a possible 40 competition points in the first eight rounds of the competition and have their sights set on extending their un to nine straight wins.
Souths also have one of the strongest tight fives in the competition which will have a big influence in the wet conditions which have hit Sydney over recent weeks.
Northern Suburbs: 1. Dave Goulter, 2. Scott Podmore, 3. Nick Lah [c]; 4. Ben Matwijow, 5. Seti Tafua; 6. Alex Harrod, 7. Carlos Blanco, 8. Matt Lamont; 9. Steve Evans, 10. Ben Murray; 11. Anthony Bingham, 12. Chris Moore, 13. James Lew, 14. Gordon Whitehead; 15. Cam Crawford.
Southern Districts: 1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. John Ulugia, 3. Dan Palmer; 4. Radike Samo, 5. Sitaleki Timani; 6. Matt Trouville, 7. Sean Doyle, 8. Ita Vaea; 9. Nathan Sievert, 10. Josh Gamgee [c]; 11. Sisa Waqa, 12. Gareth Morton, 13. Josh Tatupu, 14. Nicky Price; 15. Marshall Milroy.
Referee: Steve Walsh
West Harbour (7th) v Parramatta (12th) at Concord Oval (3:00pm)
West Harbour has the opportunity to move into the top six for the first time this season when they face Parramatta at Concord Oval.
The Pirates lost their first four games, however over the last month they have accounted for Sydney University, Manly and Randwick to show they have what it takes to contend with the top teams.
Wests are without the Ma’afu brothers, Salesi and Campese, who face off in the Wallabies-Fiji Test tomorrow night, with George Fifita moving into the front row.
The Two Blues continue to search for their first win of the season and seem to be striking the Pirates just as they are starting to hit form.
West Harbour: 1.George Fifita, 2. Todd Pearce, 3. Vaughan Lomax; 4. Tom Hikila, 5. Sam Wykes; 6. Sione Tau, 7. Mark Porpiglia, 8. Pelea Afu; 9. Jeremy Su’a, 10. Jai Ayoub; 11. Tito Mua, 12. Lester Salanoa, 13. Rory Sidey, 14. Henry Seavula; 15. Nick Reily.
Parramatta:1.Richard Just, 2. Michael Kline, 3. Tor Killman; 4. Ryan Aniseko, 5. Josh Kron; 6. Sam Evalu, 7. Andrew Cox [c], 8. William Tuitupou; 9. Frankie Paulo, 10. Tom Woods; 11. Junior Tavola, 12. John Fonua, 13. Matt Mua, 14. Moses Tavola; 15. Mark Frost.
Referee: Steve Hardy
Eastwood (3rd) v Randwick (4th) at T.G. Millner Field (3:00pm)
In what the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder will tell you is the match of the round, Eastwood host Randwick at T.G. Millner Field.
Three weeks ago favouritism for this match would have been clear with the Woodies coming off a 43-point loss to Manly and Randwick racking up a half-century against Warringah. However since then Eastwood have scored over 80 points in defeating Sydney University and Penrith while Randwick is coming off a lacklustre loss to West Harbour last weekend.
Eastwood have shuffled the pack after No.8 Locky McCaffrey was called into the Australian U20 squad for the World Junior Championship. Jared Hanna has moved to the back of the scrum, with Brumbies lock returning to the Woodies’ pack.
Injury and form have seen number of changes for Randwick in the backline with a new halfback, new centre pairing and new fullback from the side which took to the field last week. Nio Halangahu has been selected to start this week with HSBC Waratahs hooker Adam Freier named on a bench which also includes former England Sevens rep Tom Tombleson.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Chris Hill, 3. Barry Fa’amuasili; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Ben Hand; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Jared Hanna; 9. Dave Rimmer, 10. Barney Wood; 11. Nathan Brecht, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Luke Brecht, 14. John Grant; 15. Ben Batger.
Randwick: 1. Jono Owen, 2. Atonio Halangahu [c], 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Will Crutchley, 5. Ross Kennedy; 6. Dave Parsons; 7. Seilala Lam, 8. Neil Meyer; 9. Danny Kroll, 10. Brent Kelly; 11. Paul Hannify, 12. Dane Inman, 13. Tim Wright, 14. Dave Dillon; 15. Matt Nethery.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson
Manly (2nd) v Sydney University (8th) at Manly Oval (3:00pm)
In a match which holds great interest for the rest of the competition, Manly will look to defend the Sir Roden Cutler Shield against the team which has had a mortgage on the trophy in recent years, Sydney University.
The Marlins are flying high in second place on the competition ladder with their only blemishes in 2010 coming from a pair of one-point losses to Southern Districts and West Harbour.
Western Force prop Tim Fairbrother and Brumbies centre Tyrone Smith are the standout players in the Manly line-up, however they face a Students’ team fielding its strongest side of the season.
Uni are fielding three 2010 Super 14 players in the pack along with returning stalwart and Melbourne-bound No.8 Tim Davidson. They also welcome back Daniel Halangahu, Julian Huxley and new captain Tom Carter for a match which could take the Students into the top six should other results go their way.
Manly: 1. Eddie Aholelei, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Tim Fairbrother; 4. Dylan Sigg, 5. Cadeyrn Neville; 6. Tevita Metuisela, 7. Will Brame [c], 8. Marlon Solofuti; 9. Chris Cottee, 10. Ben Seymour; 11. Lui Siale, 12. Tyrone Smith, 13. John Payne, 14. Luke Johnson; 15. Adam D’Arcy.
Sydney University: 1. Jeremy Tilse, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Paddy Ryan; 4. Sam Carter, 5. Dave McDuling; 6. Dave Dennis, 7. Trent Dyer, 8. Tim Davidson; 9. Eddie Bredenhann, 10. Daniel Halangahu; 11. Lachie Mitchell, 12. Tom Carter [c], 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Nathan Trist; 15. Julian Huxley.
Referee: James Leckie
Warringah (10th) v Eastern Suburbs (5th) at Pittwater Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Warringah have the best possible opportunity to get their season moving in the right direction when they host Eastern Suburbs at Pittwater Rugby Park.
The Rats welcome Force lock Tom Hockings to a pack which already includes Luke Holmes, Beau Robinson and Michael Lipman, while the inclusion of Brett Sheehan and Sam Harris ensures the Warringah backline features six players with Super 14 experience this year.
Easts have suffered back-to-back losses to slump from second to fifth and will be hoping the inclusion of former Wallaby prop Guy Shepherdson can steady their pack as they look to arrest their slide down the ladder.
NOTE: There is still some doubt over the availability of Pittwater Rugby Park for this fixture due to the wet weather. Visit http://www.waratahs.com.au/TooheysNewShuteShieldSydneyGrade/MainPage/WetWeatherInfo.aspx for the most up to date wet weather information.
Warringah: 1. Dan Raymond, 2. Luke Holmes, 3. Dan Barnard; 4. Brent Murphy, 5. Tom Hockings; 6. Beau Robinson, 7. Michael Lipman [c], 8. Trevor Richardson; 9. Josh Holmes, 10. Brett Sheehan; 11. Dylan Smouha, 12. Sam Harris, 13. Haig Sare, 14. Joelin Rapana; 15. Pat McCabe.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Ofa Fainga’anuku, 2. Jessie Davidson, 3. Guy Shepherdson; 4. Ed Brenac, 5. Matt McGann; 6. Fergus Dorney, 7. Will Brock, 8. Jordan Brown; 9. Brendan McKibbin, 10. Ben Ward; 11. Anton Lavin, 12. Tim Corcoran, 13. Lloyd Jones, 14. Gavin Debartolo; 15. Patrick Smith.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Gordon v Penrith – POSTPONED
Date and time of this rescheduled fixture are still to be advised.