Club Corner is back, and it’s knockout footy time!
Technically, for many sides the finals started last week as they played for their seasons, and with several massive omissions from finals this year across many competitions, the next three weeks are going to be enthralling for rugby fans in the Eastern states. Regular seasons also near their climax in Western Australia, Adelaide and Tasmania, with plenty of questions still to be answered.
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NEW SOUTH WALES: CHARTER HALL SHUTE SHIELD - QUALIFYING FINALS
Starting with a cliché for each finals competition: and then, there were six. The last week of regular season saw thrilling results in Sydney’s Premier Grade, and despite a strong win for the Two Blues in their last ditch attempt to make finals, Gordon locked in sixth place in emphatic fashion, demolishing Sydney Uni to knock the current premiers out of finals contention.
Many teams also continued their strong form, with Norths winning over the Wildfires, Eastwood prevailing in a thriller over Manly, while Eastern Suburbs finished their season on a high with a win over Souths.
However, this weekend, qualifying finals beckon, and interesting, sees four of six sides clash for the second time in as many weeks, as Northern Suburbs welcome final debutants Hunter Wildfires back to North Sydney Oval, while Manly return the favour and travel up to TG Milner Field to face the Woodies.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Randwick v Gordon
What makes this particular match stand out is not just that it’s a great rivalry in the context of the Shute Shield, but because of how strong and ruthless both teams have been over the last few weeks. Despite their ladder positions, the scalps both sides have picked up suggests they are the teams most in form going into finals. How thrilling it will be that their first clash on the road to the Shield is against each other!
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
Norths v Hunter Wildfires
Randwick v Gordon
Eastwood v Manly
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QUEENSLAND: STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP - SEMI FINALS
Up in the Sunshine State, only four remain. The final round of the regular season saw high scoring affairs and demolitions, with Wests locking in second place by putting sixty on the Dragons, while GPS finished their season with the same margin over Norths. Bond Uni denied Souths the chance to finish their season on a high, while Brothers overcame a strong Easts side.
It sets up a thrilling finals campaign, and with the usual suspects in UQ also out of finals, it’s a chance for clubs to really seize their destiny and spring a big result. It’s finals footy, what more do you want?
In the first of two clashes, Easts and Brothers will meet for the second time in as many weeks as they play for the preliminary final clash next week, with Easts looking to return the favour after going down in a thriller to the Brethren.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Bond University v Wests
A potential preview to what we might see out at Ballymore in a few weeks time, this clash looms as a enticing one for several reasons: not the least being that it’s the minor premiers squaring off against the current Hospital Cup holders, but also because despite the Bull Sharks form, Wests have had the rub of the green whenever these two sides have met. Considering how history is beckoning for Bond with an inaugural title potentially in their grasp, there is hope they can shake the monkey (or in this case, bulldog) off their backs.
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA: FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND TWENTY ONE
It’s the penultimate round of the regular season in Western Australia, and true to form, many sides are flying home with a wet sail. Wests defeat of Palms in Round Nineteen has truly opened up the race for the minor premiership, and the result saw the likes of Cottesloe, Associates, Wests Scarborough and Palmyra all power away to thrilling wins this weekend. UWA also overcame a strong Bayswater side, winning 31-30.
While the top six look set in stone, where they finish will be the critical makeup of the next fortnight. This weekend, Palmyra travel to face Kalamunda, Nedlands face Wanneroo, and Perth Bayswater welcome current premiers Wests Scarborough to Pat O’Hara Reserve.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Cottesloe v UWA
It’s easy to forget that, with the three way contest emerging between Palms, Wests and UWA that Cottesloe, the best performing club in recent years in the West, is also not far behind. Sitting in fifth, they have proven a tough nut to crack at Harvey Field even for the best of teams. UWA will have a fight on their hands, especially given how many teams have shown a knack for pushing them close. Their ability to pull off thrilling wins has not gone unnoticed however, and they’ll need to maintain the rage if they want to wrestle the top of the ladder back off Palmyra.
Other Fixtures
Southern Lions - BYE
Associates v Joondalup
Kalamunda v Palmyra (Live on Stan Sport)
Wanneroo v Nedlands
Perth Bayswater v Wests Scarborough
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Rising Player
Billy Browne has been outstanding form all season for Wests Scarborough, and his efforts were rewarded as he was unveiled as the RugbyWA Men's Player of the Month for July. With Wests locked in for finals, expect him to have more of an impact on this season.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: BENTSPOKE JOHN I DENT CUP - SEMI FINALS
Like in Brisbane, only four teams remain in the ACT, and the final round of the John I Dent Cup confirmed it. Gungahlin fired a warning shot that they are in flying form going into finals as they put fifty on the Royals, Tuggeranong put sixty on the Emus, and Uni-Norths finished off their season on a high, dispatch Cup title defenders Queanbeyan 19-35.
A thrilling weekend is expected at Viking Park as semis get under way, and while the Vikings finish as minor premiers, all teams that have made finals have either beaten them or challenged them at some point this season, which suggests it might not be as smooth sailing as we predict it to be.
The Royals will take on Wests Lions on Sunday, with the winning locking in a spot in the preliminary final next week.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Tuggeranong Vikings v Gungahlin Eagles
It’s statement time for both sides. The winner gets a week off and books themselves in the grand final, so where else to push than here. This is the Vikings greatest challenger this season, as the Eagles have looked unstoppable since grabbing a 40-41 win back in Round Fourteen. The Vikings have it in them however to turn their form around, and being at home might do the trick. For the Eagles, destiny calls. They’ve looked on the cusp of challenging for the Cup for years, and this is the strongest they’ve looked in a long time.
VICTORIA: VAILO DEWAR SHIELD - SEMI FINALS
So, who saw that coming?! In a thrilling turn of events, as Harlequins put eighty on the Rams and secured the minor premiership and Endeavour Hills put sixty on Box Hill to secure second place, the remaining two fixtures saw a stunning change to the finals dynamic.
Melbourne University stunned fourth placed Footscray at home 34-36, which meant that the fast finishing Power House could make finals if they defeated the Melbourne Unicorns. Replicating their antics of last season, they did just that, beating Melbourne 38-22 to snatch fourth from Footscray.
As a result, this weekend Power House will travel to Melbourne Rugby Club to face the Unicorns for the second time in as many weeks, with a preliminary finals spot on the line.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Harlequins v Endeavour Hills
The Dewar Shield has been a thrilling contest this year, but despite that, Quins and the Hills have been the in-form teams this year, and their meeting in finals almost seemed inevitable. With the head-to-head recording one win a piece, there is a lot riding on this clash, especially if it could likely set up for the Grand Final in a fortnight’s time. There will a lot for Victorian rugby fans to enjoy this weekend down at Holmesglen Reserve.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND SIXTEEN
We head into the final three rounds of the Coopers Premier Grade, and with Brighton, Burnside and Southern Suburbs now having secured their finals spots, it becomes a matter of who claims that elusive fourth spot. Old Collegians maintain a strong grip, but with Elizabeth and Onkas still in the race, it’ll loom as a long few weeks for the Old Colls faithful.
This week, Old Collegians have the chance to knock one of those challengers out when they face Onkaparinga, Burnside face Souths, Adelaide Uni host Woodville, and Port Adelaide welcome Brighton.
Fixtures
Elizabeth - BYE
Old Collegians v Onkaparinga
Souths v Burnside
Adelaide Uni v Woodville
Port Adelaide v Brighton
TASMANIA: TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND THIRTEEN
The penultimate round of the regular season looms in Tasmania, and with the top four in Launceston, Taroona, Devonport and Burnie now locked in for finals, it becomes a matter of who finishes where.
This weekend, Hobart Lions face Devonport, Taroona welcome the Quins, Burnie Emus face the Tigers, and Glenorchy take on Uni.
Fixtures
Hobart Hutchins Lions v Devonport
Taroona v Harlequins
Glenorchy v Tasmania University
Burnie Emus v Launceston
Enjoy your club rugby this weekend, wherever you are!
