The final match of round 20 takes place at Coogee when Randwick host Eastwood at Coogee Oval in the ABC TV Game of the Day.
All other fixtures were played last weekend, with the winner of this clash poised to move into second place on the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder.
2009 TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD
Round 20 (split round) - 22 August 2009
Saturday 22 August 2009
RANDWICK (3rd) V EASTWOOD (4th) at Coogee Oval (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
Just two points separate Randwick and Eastwood on the Tooheys New Shute Shield ladder ahead of this important clash to complete round 20.
With just two weeks remaining until the finals following this match, both sides have the opportunity to move into second place with a victory on Saturday, moving them into position for a rest in the opening week of the playoffs.
Eastwood were victorious in the respective round nine clash, however since then Randwick have gone on to win nine of their last ten games, the only blemish coming a fortnight ago against a red hot Sydney University line-up.
At the start of July Eastwood was sitting outside the top six, but their recent form has placed them well into premiership calculations. Over the last six rounds Eastwood have scored the maximum 30 competition points, averaging over 53 points per game. With their playoff position not yet secured, this match, along with their meetings over the next two weeks with Gordon and Sydney University will prove crucial.
Randwick will be missing flanker Ben Mowen who has undergone surgery on the knee injury he suffered in round 20, but have been boosted by the recent return of Brumbies Mark Chisholm, Stephen Hoiles, Patrick Phibbs, Francis Fainifo, Josh Valentine and Henry Vanderglas.
Eastwood's revised team sheet sees Super 14 front rowers Keiran Longbottom and Matt Dunning missing from the starting XV, replaced by Simon Norris and Barry Faamuasili.
Randwick: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. Atonio Halangahu [c], 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Steven Brennan, 5. Mark Chisholm; 6. Tim Maxwell; 7. Seilala Lam, 8. Stephen Hoiles; 9. Patrick Phibbs, 10. Tim Walsh; 11. Ratu Nasiganiyavi, 12. Shaun Foley, 13. Bernie Orbell, 14. Francis Fainifo; 15. Marshall Milroy.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Barry Faamuasili; 4. Ben Hand, 5. Tom Alexander; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Locky McCaffrey; 9. Chris O'Young, 10. James Foote; 11. Rowan Kellam, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Tim Bennetts, 14. John Grant; 15. Michael McDougall.
Referee: Nathan Pearce
Last Meeting: Eastwood 42 d Randwick 10 at T.G. Millner Field
Other Round 20 Results
Last Saturday - Sydney University 16 d Eastern Suburbs 12 at Woollahra Oval; Northern Suburbs 57 d Penrith 19 at North Sydney Oval; Southern Districts 47 d Parramatta 12 at Forshaw Rugby Park; Warringah 23 d West Harbour 16 at Pittwater Rugby Park.
Last Sunday - Gordon 32 d Manly 23 at Chatswood Oval.
REPRESENTATIVE PLAYERS FEATURED THIS WEEKEND
HSBC Waratahs: Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood), Sekope Kepu (Randwick), Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Randwick)
Brumbies: Ben Hand (Eastwood), Mark Chisholm (Randwick), Stephen Hoiles (Randwick), Patrick Phibbs (Randwick), Francis Fainifo (Randwick), Henry Vanderglas (Randwick, reserve), Josh Valentine (Randwick, reserve)
Western Force: Chris O'Young (Eastwood)
Australian Sevens (2008/09): Shaun Foley (Randwick), Tim Walsh (Randwick), Francis Fainifo (Randwick)
Australian U20s: Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood), Seilala Lam (Randwick)