Round 2 of the Shute Shield presents a number of exciting encounters highlighted by the Bayfield Cup clash between Manly and Warringah in the ABC TV Game of the Day.
The local derby at Manly Oval is one of two all-top six encounters this weekend, with front-runners Eastwood and Southern Districts also facing off. Northern Suburbs and West Harbour are aiming for their first wins, as are Penrith and Gordon.
Southern Districts play at home for the first time in 2011 against a talented Easts side while traditional rivals Parramatta and Randwick do battle at Granville Park.
MANLY (3) v WARRINGAH (5) at Manly Oval (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
One of the fiercest rivalries in club Rugby hits Manly Oval on Saturday when Manly takes on Warringah in a match worth of the ABC TV Game of the Day.
The Marlins are one of the competition favourites in 2011 and will be looking for an improved performance following their opening round victory over Gordon. The Sunday afternoon clash at Chatswood Oval earned a bonus point for the visitors, however the match was in the balance for much longer than coach Tim Lane would have been hoping for.
Australian Sevens rep Brian Sefanaia returns for the Marlins this week and will be on the end of an exciting midfield featuring HSBC Junior Waratahs flyhalf Ben Seymour and Brumbies utility Robbie Coleman.
Warringah travel up the road to Manly keen to claim the Bayfield Cup with the Marlins currently holding the trophy after a 24-20 victory in round 14 last year.
The Rats produced a stunning finish in round one, scoring two tries in the last five minutes to beat Randwick by four points and rookie coach Sam Harris has stuck largely with the same squad.
LAST MEETING
2010 Round 14 – Manly 24 d Warringah 20 at Pittwater Rugby Park
TEAMS
Manly: 1. Eddie Aholelei, 2. Elvis Taione, 3. Jono Owen; 4. Greg Peterson, 5. Cadeyrn Neville; 6. Ed Gower, 7. Kotoni Ale, 8. Neil Meyer; 9. Chris Cottee, 10. Ben Seymour; 11. Chris Yarrington, 12. Robbie Coleman, 13. Brian Sefanaia, 14. Lui Siale; 15. BJ Hartman.
Warringah: 1. Richard Southern, 2. Ronald Hobden, 3. Dan Barnard; 4. Mitchell Longrigg, 5. Luke Hanvey; 6. Paul MacGugan, 7. James Lindfield, 8. Jason Peseta; 9. Josh Holmes [c], 10. Maurice Kennedy; 11. Dylan Smouha , 12. Joe Walsh, 13. Ed Doyle, 14. Michael Dalton; 15. Dave Feltscheer.
Referee: James Leckie
NORTHERN SUBURBS (9) v WEST HARBOUR (7) at North Sydney Oval (3:00pm)
Northern Suburbs will be hoping to turn a promising first half into an 80 minute effort when then host West Harbour at North Sydney Oval.
The Shoremen were within a converted try of Easts at half-time last week however were not able to come home with the goods at Woollahra. It will be no easier this weekend against a West Harbour side striving for their first win of the season.
The Pirates were lucky to come away from round one with a share of the points with a late penalty saving them from a first-up loss to Penrith.
While there have not been mass changes, a significant addition is Melbourne Rebels and former Test prop Rodney Blake which could swing the battle up front in the favour of the Pirates.
LAST MEETING
2010 Round 12 – Northern Suburbs 37 d West Harbour 24 at North Sydney Oval
TEAMS
Northern Suburbs:1. Lawrence Hunting, 2. Scott Podmore, 3. Scott Sio; 4. Kingsley Seale, 5. Ben Matwijow; 6. Seti Tafua, 7. Wil Brame, 8. AJ Gilbert; 9. James Price, 10. Pete Smith; 11. Zack Holmes, 12. Stu Adam, 13. Henari Veratau, 14. Bill Meakes; 15. Samu Wara.
West Harbour: 1.Rodney Blake, 2. Reg de Jager, 3. Vaughan Lomax; 4. Tom Hikila, 5. Damien Lloyd; 6. Sione Tau, 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Isaiah Pine; 9. Jeremy Su’a, 10. Shaun Treweek; 11. Macquire Tatola, 12. Nua Alone, 13. Henry Seavula, 14. Joe Tuvitu; 15. Liam Windon.
Referee: Anthony Moyes
PENRITH (6) v GORDON (10) at Nepean Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Penrith find themselves in the unusual position of playing a team below them on the table and will take great confidence into their clash with Gordon at Nepean Rugby Park.
The Emus’ home ground has long been one of the hardest places to travel to in the competition and Penrith will be hoping to take another step forward after their draw in round one. Penrith conceded a half-time lead before West Harbour tied the game on the bell, and it will be all the motivation the home side needs going into this match.
Gordon also enter the match with their chins up after a performance which surprised many in round one. While the Highlanders were expected to be on the wrong side of a mismatch against Manly, Gordon put in a spirited performance and was still well in the game at half-time.
With both sides looking to improve week one results “which might have been”, this fixture could be one of the games of the round.
LAST MEETING
2010 Round 20 - Gordon 26 d Penrith 21 at Nepean Rugby Park
TEAMS
Penrith: 1. Dave Coventry, 2. Toa Asa, 3. Richard Aho; 4. Luke Williams, 5. Dale Shane; 6. Winnie Paulo, 7. Rob Carlson, 8. Viliami Napia’a; 9. Sikuti Vunipola, 10. Gavin Duncan; 11. Tala Mapesone, 12. Hamilton Va’alepu, 13. Lachlan Porteous, 14. Stan Tuionuku; 15. Ateloa Okati.
Gordon: 1.Lawrence Marsh, 2. Tobius Gukibau [c], 3. Travis Church; 4. Lex Fairley, 5. Ben Paurini; 6. Jonno Broome, 7. Mitch Greenway, 8. Junior To’o; 9. Terry Preston, 10. Josh Keil; 11. Eric Maroni, 12. Tom Mathews, 13. Dion Berryman, 14. Matt McDougall; 15. Dave Harvey.
Referee: Daniel Cheever
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (12) v EASTERN SUBURBS (4) at Forshaw Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Southern Districts will be hoping to put an opening round defeat behind them but will have their work cut out when they face Eastern Suburbs at Forshaw Rugby Park.
The Rebels won their opening ten matches in 2010 but find themselves on the bottom of the table after a 19-point loss to Eastwood in round one.
Their task doesn’t get any easier against an Eastern Suburbs side which has a share of the competition lead following a four-try win over Norths last weekend.
The Beasts have added Fijian Test prop Campese Ma’afu to their front row while former Souths flyhalf Kurt Morath will continue to benefit from more game time with a rejigged backline which has seen Dion Taumata move into the centres and Junior Poroku to fullback.
LAST MEETING
2010 Round 18 – Eastern Suburbs 38 d Southern Districts 26 at Forshaw Rugby Park
TEAMS
Southern Districts: 1. Tetera Faulkner, 2. John Ulugia, 3. Duncan Chubb; 4. Rome Nifo, 5. Hoani Matengi; 6. Sean Doyle, 7. Sam Latunipulu, 8. Lopeti Timani; 9. Josh Gamgee [c], 10. Ben Volavola; 11. Ryan Shortland, 12. Apo Latunipulu, 13. Nicky Price, 14. Ben Connolly; 15. Rohan Saifoloi.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Campese Ma’afu, 2. Tom Coolican, 3. Rob McMickan; 4. Matt McGann, 5. Phil Mathers; 6. Jordan Brown, 7. Andrew Shaw, 8. Talalelei Gray; 9. Luke Irwin, 10. Kurt Morath; 11. Ratu Ma’afu, 12. Dion Taumata, 13. Anton Lavin, 14. Johnny Morath; 15. Junior Poroku.
Referee: Angus Gardner
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (2) v EASTWOOD (1) at University Oval No.1 (3:00pm)
With both teams recording almost-identical wins in round one, the Sydney University-Eastwood clash provides an early season top of the table contest at University Oval No.1.
The Students have been boosted by the return of Paddy Ryan – who made his Super Rugby debut for the HSBC Waratahs last Friday – and Bernard Foley, who captained the Australian Sevens team last weekend in Adelaide.
Eastwood welcome back inspirational backrower Hugh Perrett who was unavailable last week while on duty with the Rebels Rising in Perth. His presence could provide the difference for the Woods who have the first chance to take possession of the Sir Roden Cutler Shield which remained on campus at the end of last season.
LAST MEETING
2010 Round 18 – Sydney University 38 d Eastwood 24 at T.G. Millner Field
TEAMS
Sydney University: 1. Jeremy Tilse, 2. Ben Roberts, 3. Paddy Ryan; 4. Hugh Hawkins, 5. Tom Heslop; 6. Harry Marples, 7. David Hickey, 8. Jack de Guingand; 9. Eddie Bredenhann, 10. Bernard Foley; 11. Nick Edwards, 12. James McMahon, 13. Elih Baillie, 14. Will du Plessis; 15. Danny Kroll.
Eastwood: 1. Simon Norris, 2. Bleddyn Gant, 3. Martin Plokstys; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Josh Dunning; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett, 8. Miles McCaffrey; 9. Nic White, 10. Pierre Hola; 11. John Grant, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Tim Bennetts, 14. Cameron Mitchell; 15. Ben Batger [c].
Referee: Jamie McGregor
PARRAMATTA (11) v RANDWICK (8) at Granville Park (3:00pm)
In one of the most traditional rivalries in Sydney Premier Rugby, Randwick travel to Granville to take on Parramatta this weekend.
The Two Blues are a far-improved outfit in 2011 with an 18-point loss in round one an inaccurate indication of the game. Parramatta was forced to spend most of the game with 14 men – and some of it with 13 – and the Two Blues were still within a converted try going into the final stages.
If they can stay within touch of Randwick down the stretch on Saturday they could pull off the upset of the season with the Galloping Greens last week surrendering a lead late in their loss to Warringah.
The Wicks go into the match as hot favourites, however they will need former Pirates flyhalf Jai Ayoub to create opportunities to take advantage of what is a talented backline.
LAST MEETING
2010 Round 15 – Randwick 65 d Parramatta 3 at Coogee Oval
TEAMS
Parramatta:1.Sione Taula, 2. Trent Hoscher, 3. Lamarn Ma’a; 4. Ryan Aniseko, 5. Josh Kron; 6. Andrew Cox, 7. Rodney Ma’a, 8. Waqa Vulawalu; 9. Lua Vailoaloa, 10. Ioane Sefo; 11. Dan Yakopo, 12. Jesse Leota, 13. Damien Fakafanua, 14. Brendan Lane; 15. Tyler Stevens.
Randwick: 1. Daniel Spencer, 2. John Fonokalafi, 3. Steven Noriega; 4. Tim Maxwell, 5. Geoffrey Ingram; 6. Seilala Lam; 7. Tim McGann, 8. David Parsons; 9. Luke Parsons, 10. Jai Ayoub; 11. Clinton Sills, 12. Toby Browne, 13. Tom Joseph, 14. Tom Tombleson; 15. Tim Wright.
Referee: Callan O’Neill