Club corner is back for another week, previewing the best that premier club rugby across the nation has to offer this weekend.
This weekend sees multiple club competitions hit round five of regular season, and with several clubs already making their presence felt nationwide as contenders for club glory, the grind for the chasing packs starts to set in.
QUEENSLAND PREMIER GRADE - ROUND FIVE
With Souths enjoying the bye, many of the chasing pack in Brisbane need to win this weekend to catch up with the likes of University of Queensland, GPS and Bond University. This is especially the case for the likes of Easts and Wests, who face each other this weekend and will look to finally nab their first wins and put their underperforming starts behind them.
Other matches will see Norths travel to face Brothers, while Sunnybank will be hosting current ladder leaders UQ.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Bond University v GPS: a critical clash in the context of this year's season, Bond University and GPS have, over the course of the opening rounds, shown they are more than able to keep pace with UQ. With the Bullsharks off the bye, they need to maintain that momentum to back up their solid start. GPS have proven themselves equal to the task however, having brushed off Easts and a talented Dragons side in quick succession. Expect a tantalizing contest on the Gold Coast!
Other fixtures:
Brothers v Norths
Easts v Wests
Sunnybank v University of Queensland
Souths - BYE
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SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND FIVE
The first five rounds have been a fascinating watch in Sydney, with early contenders aplenty and surprises to boot. This weekend sees several heavyweight clashes, including Sydney University hosting the Jekyll and Hyde outfit of Manly, West Harbour hosting Norths, Hunter Wildfires will welcome the Emus to Newcastle, and Eastern Suburbs will travel out to Orange to play the Two Blues.
Gordon will also make their return to festivities, coming up against a similarly desperate Souths, who despite positive performances still have struggled to string wins together.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Eastwood v Warringah: These two teams have been the big surprise packages this year, with the Woodies looking especially dangerous the last two rounds. A dominant display against the Beasties sees them currently hovering around third, and very much in the race for the top of the ladder. However, sitting right below them are the men from the beach. The Rats had a very disappointing season last year, but judging on their current form have been putting that far, far behind them. A win here this early on would be critical for both sides, which makes the clash all the more fascinating.
Other fixtures:
Gordon v Souths
Eastern Suburbs v Two Blues
West Harbour v Northern Suburbs
Hunter Wildfires v Penrith
Sydney University v Manly
Randwick - BYE
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JOHN I DENT CUP - ROUND FOUR
Round Four in the national capital sees Wests Lions still to drop a game, having put away an improved Royals outfit away from home last week. With that comes pressure to perform, and they’ll likely need to be on their game should any of the other teams put their hand up.
This weekend they face a potential banana skin in Queanbeyan, while the Owls have a similarly tough task against the resurgent Eagles, who have come off two matches where they’ve put fifty or more on the opposition.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Canberra Royals v Tuggeranong: it ain’t one of the biggest derby matches in club rugby for nothing. While their fortunes have been mixed, it’s fair to say both sides will likely be up for this classic derby match. The Royals showed improvement last week against pacesetters Wests, yet that first win still eludes them. The Vikings meanwhile sit in second place, but a loss here could be critical for them too if Wests continue their form. Neither side can afford to lose, which makes this derby even better!
Other fixtures:
Uni-Norths v Gungahlin
Wests v Queanbeyan
FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND FIVE
With Wests and UWA setting the pace, this year’s season of the FMG Premier Grade has seen a closer contest between all sides. That is set to continue this weekend, with several up-and-coming sides clashing with the current pace setters. Of particular note will be Wanneroo hosting Wests Scarborough, Kalamunda hosting UWA, Perth Bayswater heading away to face Palmyra and Nedlands hosting Brothers.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Cottesloe v Associates: the biggest match in WA clubland is set to reignite this weekend, with both teams coming off their first wins of the season last week. Given the troubles both teams have faced injury-wise, a win here will do their confidence the world of good, which could make this game even more critical in the context of the wider competition. We expect a big crowd this weekend down at Cottesloe Oval!
Other fixtures:
Curtin Uni v Coastal Cavaliers
Kalamunda v UWA
Nedlands v Joondalup
Palmyra v Perth Bayswater
ARKs v Southern Lions
Wanneroo v Wests Scarborough
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DEWAR SHIELD - ROUND FOUR
Four rounds in, and four teams have emerged as real contenders down in Melbourne. The Rams, Unicorns, Endeavour Hills and Power House have all hit the ground running in 2021, creating a traffic jam on the ladder. This weekend sees the Unicorns face Footscray, Box Hill host Harlequins and Uni host Endeavour Hills.
RUGBY.com.au Match of The Round
Moorabbin v Power House: in the context of these sides, both teams sit on the same points and in similar positions on the ladder. Having thrown their hat in the ring, this match will be a case of a separation of the contenders from the pretenders, with the winners keeping in touch with Unicorns at the top of the ladder.
Other Fixtures:
Footscray v Melbourne
Box Hill v Harlequins
Melbourne University v Endeavour Hills
COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND FIVE
Round five in Adelaide see’s several big clashes, especially between the traditional heavyweights of the competition. Elizabeth have been the big surprises so far and currently sit in fourth, however Onkaparinga are close on their tails, and will be out to reclaim that top four spot when they face Burnside. Southern Suburbs will host Old Collegians, Port Adelaide will face the resurgent Woodville, and Elizabeth have a tough assignment hosting Brighton.
All fixtures:
Onkaparinga v Burnside
Southern Suburbs v Old Collegians
Port Adelaide v Woodville
Elizabeth v Brighton
Adelaide University - BYE
TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND TWO
Lastly, round one on the island state saw the Burnie Emus, Glenorchy and Launceston Tigers draw first blood. Round two sees Taroona host the Lions, Launceston look to try their luck against last year’s minor premiers and northern rivals in Devonport, Harlequins host Uni, and Glenorchy and Burnie play out a potential match of the round fixture in Hobart.
All fixtures:
Taroona v Hobart Lions
Launceston v Devonport
Harlequins v University of Tasmania
Glenorchy v Burnie Emus
Wherever you are this weekend, we hope you enjoy your club footy!
