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