Welcome to Club Corner, our weekly series where we preview the upcoming weekend of Australia’s premier club competitions.
Brisbane - Hospital Challenge Cup Rd.4
Starting in Brisbane, round three saw several big upsets across the table, with Sunnybank and Bond University picking up wins while GPS continued to showcase their title credentials with a win against Brothers. The match of the round, however, undoubtedly came from Easts, claiming an incredible away victory against University of Queensland to send a strong message to the rest of the competition.
As round four approaches, the ladder is proving to be an incredibly tight affair, with even teams who haven’t picked up a win, like Norths, still in the hunt through picking up losing bonus points.
Our Match of The Round:
Easts v GPS - considering where the ladder is at the moment, this match was always going to be our pick. Both sides are still currently undefeated, and sent out major warning shots last round with wins over Uni and Brothers, respectively. This weekend however will see the real pecking order emerge, and considering the talent both sides possess across the park, it’ll be very difficult to pick a winner.
Other Fixtures:
Brothers v Bond University
Sunnybank v University of Queensland
Norths v Wests
BYE – Souths
You can watch these games live on Queensland Premier Rugby’s Facebook page or on the Rugby Xplorer App.
Sydney - Shute Shield Rd. 6
The Shute Shield inches closer and closer towards the halfway point of the season, and based on the results of the weekend several key teams have put their hand up for contention.
Gordon continues to look dangerous with a commanding win over Manly, while Randwick and Northern Suburbs also picked up big wins. This weekend just gone however saw the arrival of Southern Districts as title contenders as well, with a come from behind win over Sydney University away from home a warning shot to the rest of the competition.
This weekend will see many more clashes that will separate the contenders from the pretenders, with Eastwood hosting the Students and Norths looking to put Eastern Suburbs finals chances in jeopardy.
Our Match Of The Round:
Southern Districts v Randwick: This weekend marks a significant challenge for the Wicks. Having had a dream start to the draw, they have captialised with big wins over Newcastle, Penrith, West Harbour and Western Sydney. In that mix though, they also came up against the Rats and put them away in a close encounter. This match, however, will be a much more difficult clash, with the Rebels also having not dropped a game, and are coming off a thrilling win over the Students. Add to the fact that Souths have the home field advantage, and Randwick should encounter a big test when they arrive at Forshaw Rugby Park on the weekend.
Other Fixtures:
Northern Suburbs v Eastern Suburbs
Hunter v Gordon
West Harbour v Manly
Eastwood v Sydney University
Penrith v Warringah
Western Sydney - BYE
The Hunter Wildfires - Gordon clash will be live on 7TWO, with coverage starting from 3pm this Saturday.
Canberra - John I Dent Cup Rd. 5 ctd.
The John I Dent Cup will hit the halfway mark this weekend, with round five being an absolute beauty with several big clashes showing just how close the competition will be this year. The Owls were finally brought back down to earth, but asked plenty of questions of Tuggeranong in their 26-25 loss. Wests also showed their finals credentials, winning their third match on the trot against Queanbeyan.
Most of the competition will enjoy a wet weather bye round this week, however there will be one game of club footy played in the capital.
Our Match Of The Round:
Gungahlin v Royals: The Eagles will be hosting the Royals this weekend, and will be desperate for a win given they’ve dropped their last three games. These losses have not been reflective of how competitive the Eagles have been, with them picking up a losing bonus point against the Vikings and going down swinging against the Owls. They come up against a similarly desperate Royals outfit, who have started the season slowly and only picked up their first win last round against Queanbeyan. Expect a dogged clash, with both teams’ finals chances in the balance!
Head to the John I Dent Cup Facebook page for their live stream of the Eagles-Royals match, kicking off at 3pm.
Perth - WA Premier Grade Rd. 8
We crossed the halfway point of the Fortescue Premier Grade, and suddenly, only one team has emerged as the current leaders of the comp: last year’s competition winners, Cottlesloe. Associates have made up ground however after knocking over Brothers last week, while wins to the likes of Perth Bayswater and West Scarborough sees a chasing pack emerge for the top six positions.
This week sees many critical games in the season taking place, especially as the top of the ladder tightens up. UWA will have a tough games against Associates, and will look to win to consolidate their position on the ladder, while Joondalup will be looking to bounce back against Palmyra, who also cling to a finals position.
Our Match of The Round:
Wanneroo v Perth Bayswater - In regards to both these teams seasons, this is a critical upcoming match. The hosts have been underperforming this year, having shown glimpses of their potential with a draw against heavyweights Nedlands, and by putting fifty on the Southern Lions last week. However, a slow start to the season sees them potentially losing their chance to push for finals, should they lose this weekend. Perth, by comparison, can’t afford to drop any games right now, hanging five points outside the top six. A win over Nedlands last week put some much needed wind in their sails, so they’ll be looking to continue that form here this weekend.
Other Fixtures:
Coastal Cavaliers v Wests Scarborough
Kalamunda v ARKs
Cottlesloe v Southern Lions
UWA v Associates
Nedlands v Curtin Uni
Joondalup v Palmyra
You can watch the selected match of the round over at wa.rugby.
Adelaide - Coopers Premier Grade Rd. 9
As the race for finals heats up in Adelaide, Brighton has opened up a commanding lead at the top of the table going into round nine, having swept aside their closest rivals Old Collegians last week. This round however will see several teams looking to challenge for the finishing placings, with a forthcoming clash between Burnside and Southern Suburbs a likely match of the round.
Fixtures:
Elizabeth v Onkaparinga
Brighton v Woodville
Barossa v Old Collegians
Adelaide University v Port Adelaide
Southern Suburbs v Burnside
You can watch a live stream of a selected match of the round (Southern Suburbs v Burnside) on Rugby SA’s Facebook page or on the Rugby Xplorer App.
Tasmania - Premier Grade Rd. 5
Can anyone stop the Bulls? The Tasmania Premier Grade hits the halfway mark this weekend, and Devonport currently are the team to beat, having swept aside most of the competition. However, this weekend they host the current team in second place, the Taroona Penguins, who have recently been hitting form of their own. A match that will likely decide the minor premier, it’ll be a fantastic clash at Royal Park in Devonport!
Fixtures:
Harlequins v Hobart Lions
University of Tasmania v Glenorchy
Devonport v Taroona
In addition to the online spaces highlighted, selected matches of the round can also be enjoyed by downloaded Rugby.com.au’s Rugby Xplorer app.
We hope you enjoy your club rugby this weekend, wherever you are!
Unfortunately, VIC Rugby is still currently postponed. We hope everyone in Victoria is staying safe.
