Buildcorp National Rugby Championship - Round 7 Preview

Thu, Oct 1, 2015, 2:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

The seventh round of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship kicks off with an all-Sydney clash between the Greater Sydney Rams and North Harbour Rays. The Rams will be looking to lift themselves off the foot of the table while the Rays are hoping to turn impressive performances into competition points. 

 

Ladder leaders UC Vikings take on finals-chasing Melbourne Rising on Friday evening with second-place Brisbane City travelling south of the border to take on the Sydney Stars at Leichhardt Oval. Perth Spirit entertain the CSU Country Eagles to round out the weekend's action.

 

Round 7

Match: Greater Sydney Rams v North Harbour Rays

When: Thursday 1 October. Kick-off 7.30pm AEST

Where: Pirtek Stadium, Sydney

Match Referee: Andrew Lees

Broadcast Information: FOX SPORTS Rugby World Cup Channel 502

Greater Sydney Rams Form Guide: LLL

North Harbour Rays Form Guide: LLL

Last Time They Met: 28/09/14; North Harbour Rays 34-34 Greater Sydney Rams; Brookvale Oval, Sydney

Match Notes: Local pride will be at stake when the Rays travel west to take on the Rams in Parramatta. Hamish Angus is the third top points scorer in the competition with 59. In contrast, the Rams top points scorer has just 25.

 

Match: UC Vikings v Melbourne Rising

When: Friday 2 October. Kick-off 7.30pm AEST

Where: Viking Park, Canberra

Match Referee: Rohan Hoffmann

Broadcast Information: foxsports.com.au and FOX SPORTS Now

UC Vikings Form Guide: WWW

Melbourne Rising Form Guide: WWL

Last Time They Met: 25/09/14; Melbourne Rising 34-13 UC Vikings; AAMI Park, Melbourne

Match Notes: The Vikings have scored a staggering 139 points in the last two weeks, moving to the top of the 2015 Buildcorp NRC ladder for the first time this season after seeing off the Rays last Saturday. Melbourne Rising lost the final undefeated away record in the history of the competition last weekend in Perth, though Jack Debreczeni did become the first player to pass 200 points in the competition.

 

Match: Sydney Stars v Brisbane City

When: Friday 2 October. Kick-off 7.30pm AEST

Where: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney

Match Referee: Will Houston

Broadcast Information: foxsports.com.au and FOX SPORTS Now

Sydney Stars Form Guide: LLW

Brisbane City Form Guide: WWW

Last Time They Met: 21/8/14; Brisbane City 45-20 Sydney Stars; Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane

Match Notes: Sydney Stars' Harry Jones is the 2015 competition top try scorer after scoring a hat-trick in his sides win over the Rams last Sunday. The Horan-Little Shield will be on the line with Brisbane City looking to win their Buildcorp NRC winning streak to ten.

 

Match: Perth Spirit v CSU Country Eagles

When: Sunday 4 October. Kick-off 6.00pm AEST

Where: McGillivray Fields, UWA Park, Perth

Match Referee: Damien Mitchelmore

Broadcast Information: foxsports.com.au and FOX SPORTS Now

Perth Spirit Form Guide Form Guide: LWW

CSU Country Eagles Form Guide: WLL

Last Time They Met: 18/10/14; CSU Country Eagles 40-34 Perth Spirit; Caltex Park Dubbo

Match Notes: Perth Spirit's Ian Prior is the competition's most accurate kicker, scoring 15 of 16 conversions (94%) so far this season. For both sides, this game is must-win if they are to keep their finals aspirations alive for another week.

 

Bye: Queensland Country

 

2015 Buildcorp NRC standings after six rounds:

1 UC Vikings 24 points 

2 Brisbane City 24 points

3 Sydney Stars 19 points

4 Melbourne Rising 12 points

5 Perth Spirit 10 points

6 Queensland Country 9 points

7 CSU Country Eagles 9 points

8 North Harbour Rays 5 points

9 Greater Sydney Rams 3 points

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