Before we take a look back at last weekend, there are only a few days left to secure your tickets to watch Eastern Suburbs face Hunter in a Shute Shield curtain raiser at Allianz Stadium played before the Wallabies face Georgia in an afternoon Test match.
Easts are looking to secure a top two finish in the coming weeks and play a fantastic, entertaining style of rugby while Hunter have been on the improve in recent weeks and won’t make it easy for the Sydneysiders.
Spare a thought for any tipsters following the Shute Shield competition this season.
Round 14 showed once again that anyone can beat anyone on their day. Southern Districts were brilliant in a 42-35 win over Manly last week in a result that few saw coming.
The Marlins had beaten competition leaders Warringah a week earlier, in another result that was tough to pick. While Souths had been smashed by Sydney Uni.
A number of teams will have one eye on the finals in the weeks ahead, but if they’re not careful, losses to teams below them on the ladder could put their post-season plans in disarray.
Easts held on to claim a 21-19 win over Gordon at Chatswood last weekend in a result that will boost the Beasties top two prospects as well as their psyche as they head towards the playoffs.
Easts have sat comfortably in the top six all season but have lost twice to last year’s grand finalists Randwick and lost once to Warringah.
A tight win over a finals’ bound Stags’ outfit will give the Beasties confidence that they can match it with the best in the competition.
In a sign of the tightness of the competition, Gordon dropped from third to sixth following last week’s loss.
If Sydney Uni can beat West Harbour this weekend and win their third straight match, teams in the top six will start looking over their shoulders.
Sydney Uni have scored 99 points in the past two weeks and seem to be playing themselves into form, with the help of a few returning players.
Uni are 10 points behind Gordon in sixth and 11 points behind both Manly and Norths. If either of those teams slip up this weekend, the Students will be within striking distance.
In saying that, it won’t be easy against West Harbour, who gave Randwick a real scare last weekend.
With the Wallabies playing an afternoon Test against Georgia in Sydney on Saturday, a number of teams have moved their matches to avoid a clash.
As mentioned earlier, Easts and Hunter will meet at Allianz Stadium before the Wallabies from 1pm.
Uni and West Harbour will meet at Sydney Uni at 1:30pm, giving fans plenty of time to get to Moore Park for kick off.
Souths and Gordon meet at Forshaw on Back to St George Day from 2pm and supporters of both clubs have been invited to watch the Wallabies on the big screen in the Rebels’ clubhouse at the end of first grade.
While Randwick will meet Warringah in a blockbuster clash at Coogee Oval at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.
Throw in the Reds clash against Wales on Friday night and it’s a full weekend of rugby!
