Club corner is back to preview the upcoming weekend of club footy across the country.
With Sydney now in lockdown, round eleven of the Shute Shield has been suspended this weekend. Changes are also occurring to the John I Dent Cup in Canberra, with only one game set to go ahead.
The opportunity arises for other competitions to shine in their respective cities, and this week has several big clashes happening nationwide.
QUEENSLAND PREMIER GRADE - ROUND TWELVE
Seven points currently separate UQ from the chasing pack in the Hospital Challenge Cup, which makes every corresponding clash even more significant. With several Reds players set to return to clubland in the coming weeks, expect plenty of surprise results in the mix. This week Bond University host Sunnybank, GPS host an improving Easts side, and Norths have a tough assignment as they host UQ.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Souths v Wests - a game that sees both sides desperately trying to be in contention for the top four, there is a lot to play for when the Magpies play the Bulldogs. Souths have improved after last year, but the next few weeks will likely be the final roll of the dice for them if they want to make finals, so they need to start winning consistently. Wests meanwhile need a win to catch up to Brothers in fourth place (who have the bye this weekend), so there is no excuses for them to pass this up if they want to make finals.
Other fixtures:
Bond University v Sunnybank
GPS v Easts
Norths v UQ
Brothers - BYE
Watch every minute of the Hospital Challenge Cup on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
JOHN I DENT CUP - ROUND NINE
COVID restrictions are also taking place in Canberra, with Friday bringing the news that two of the three fixtures for this week's upcoming round will be postponed to another date. Consequently, the Queanbeyan-Wests and the Gungahlin-Owls clashes will no longer take place.
However, Viking Park has been cleared to proceed this weekend, which will see last placed Royals instead travel to face Tuggeranong. The Vikings are enjoying a healthy lead at the top of the ladder and will likely be firm favourites for this clash, but in what is arguably the biggest derby in the capital, anything is possible on game day.
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FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND ELEVEN
An exciting round awaits in Perth this weekend, with the top four clubs set to square off against each other for finals bragging rights. The chasing pack also have several critical clashes, with Wanneroo facing an improved Associates side, Cottesloe travelling to face the Lions, and the Coastal Cavaliers host Kalamunda, amongst other clashes.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Wests Scarborough v Nedlands: while the similarly exciting clash between first placed UWA and fourth placed Palmyra looms as an exciting prospect, we’re going with the third-second clash. Nedlands are equal with UWA on competition points, so a win here is critical if they are to keep the place. They are coming up against Wests at home however, which is one of the hardest places to win in clubland WA. This clash looms as critical in the context of the broader season, so fans in WA better get down to support their local club!
Other fixtures:
Southern Lions v Cottesloe
Wanneroo v Associates
Perth Bayswater v ARKs
Coastal Cavaliers v Kalamunda
UWA v Palmyra
Joondalup v Curtin Uni
DEWAR SHIELD - ROUND TEN
The Dewar Shield is back in Melbourne, and with the competition being rescheduled after their lockdown the defeat of the Unicorns last week at home sees the gap between them and the chasing pack close significantly. This weekend Melbourne Uni will face Moorabbin, Box Hill will welcome Endeavour Hills, and Harlequins will host cellar dwellers Footscray.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Power House v Melbourne - third plays first this weekend, and with the Unicorns coming off a loss Power House must be smelling blood in the water, and will hope they can heap more pressure on the defending champions and grab another win off them. The Unicorns will likely want to get back to winning ways quickly after such a negative start coming out of the season restart, so a win here will be even more critical for them this weekend.
Other fixtures:
Melbourne Uni v Moorabbin
Box Hill v Endeavour Hills
Harlequins v Footscray
COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND ELEVEN
This weekend kicks off in Adelaide this weekend, and with Brighton coming off a heavy loss to Burnside several teams will look to close in on the top of the ladder. This weekend Onkas will welcome Old Collegians, Brighton will play Woodsville, Southern Suburbs will welcome Burnside in a likely match of the round clash, and Port Adelaide will host Adelaide University.
Fixtures:
Onkaparinga v Old Collegians
Brighton v Woodsville
Southern Suburbs v Burnside
Port Adelaide v Adelaide University
BYE - Elizabeth
TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND EIGHT
This weekend sees second, third and fourth all equal on competition points in the Tasmanian Premier Grade, and with only four points separating them and Launceston at the top of the ladder, the results here will set up an interesting run home to the finals. This weekend Taroona face Launceston in a top-of-the-table clash, Devonport faces Harlequins, the Lions will look to get their first win of the year against Glenorchy, and Burnie Emus will face University of Tasmania.
Fixtures:
Taroona v Launceston
Devonport v Harlequins
Hobart Lions v Glenorchy
Burnie Emus v University of Tasmania
Wherever you are this weekend, we hope you enjoy your club footy! We hope everyone in Sydney and Canberra stays safe.
