Seven Emirates Western players will be in run-on squads during the Preliminary Finals of the Shute Shield in Sydney this weekend.
Top ranked side Eastwood will feature Matt Dunning and James Stannard in their starting line-up while Commonwealth Games bound winger Nick Cummins will be aiming to help Randwick into another Grand Final.
The Galloping Greens have played off in the last three Grand Finals but failed to get their hands on the trophy and are desperate for another crack at the big game. The Woodies meanwhile would feel their season was one of lost opportunity if they didn’t progress to the last weekend of the season after claiming the minor premiership.
Eastwood boast an impressive arsenal of front rowers with Dunning, Benn Robinson and Damien Fitzpatrick starting while Perth product Kieran Longbottom is ready to spring to action from the bench.
There will be 15 players with test or Super Rugby experience starting the game with more waiting in reserve.
In the other Preliminary Final five-time defending champions Sydney University will tackle Southern Districts.
The Students boast four Emirates Western Force players in their run-on side with Nathan Charles at hooker, Ben McCalman and Jono Jenkins on the flanks and Mitch Inman at outside centre.
Sydney Uni has taken part in preliminary finals every year for more than a decade, while Southern Districts – who earned the first week of the finals off following a last round victory over minor premiers Eastwood – are yet to qualify for a premiership grand final since the St George and Port Hacking clubs came together in 1989.
Sydney Uni is currently on the longest winning streak of 2010 with eleven straight wins, surpassing opponents Southern Districts’ mark which was achieved in a perfect ten to start the year.
Sydney’s hopes of another tilt at the title have been bolstered with every player in the starting XV currently contracted to a Super Rugby team.
Saturday 25 September 2010
EASTWOOD (1st) v RANDWICK (6th)
Eastwood: 1. Benn Robinson, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 3. Matt Dunning; 4. Tom Alexander, 5. Ben Hand; 6. Gareth Palamo, 7. Hugh Perrett [c], 8. Locky McCaffrey; 9. James Stannard, 10. James Foote; 11. Lachie Turner, 12. Sione Piukala, 13. Tim Bennetts, 14. John Grant; 15. Ben Batger.
Randwick: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. John Fonokalafi, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Junior Maninoa, 5. Mark Chisholm; 6. Rocky Elsom, 7. Seilala Lam, 8. Ben Mowen; 9. Patrick Phibbs, 10. Toby Browne; 11. Shaun Foley, 12. John Tamanika, 13. Nick Cummins, 14. Tom Tombleson; 15. Kurtley Beale.
2010 Head-to-Head
Round 9 – Eastwood 49 d Randwick 14 at T.G. Millner Field
Round 20 – Eastwood 40 d Randwick 14 at Coogee Oval
Sunday 26 September 2010
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS (2nd) v SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (4th)
Southern Districts: 1. Nic Henderson, 2. Nick Seymour, 3. Dan Palmer; 4. Rome Nifo, 5. Kane Douglas; 6. Sitaleki Timani, 7. Hamish Paterson, 8. Radike Samo; 9. Dewet Roos, 10. Kurt Morath; 11. Sisa Waqa, 12. Josh Gamgee, 13. Brackin Karauria-Henry, 14. Chris Kerr; 15. Rohan Saifoloi.
Sydney University: 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Jeremy Tilse; 4. Dave Dennis, 5. Dean Mumm; 6. Ben McCalman, 7. Jono Jenkins, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Luke Burgess, 10. Berrick Barnes; 11. Lachie Mitchell, 12. Tom Carter, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Peter Betham; 15. Julian Huxley.
2010 Head-to-Head
Round 3 – Southern Districts 19 d Sydney University 17 at University Oval No.1
Round 14 – Sydney University 43 d Southern Districts 10 at Forshaw Rugby Park
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