Club corner is back to preview the upcoming weekend of club footy across the country.
In our final edition of Club Corner for 2021, it all comes to a close this weekend following a fantastic, if disrupted, season nationwide.
Firstly, last week Cottesloe picked up their third premiership on the trot with a thrilling 19-14 win over Palmyra last week at Kalamunda Rugby Club, bringing an end to a fantastic season of rugby in the west. Many noted the rapid improvement in the overall quality of the Fortescue Premier Grade this year, which bodes well for the future of the game in WA and for the Force.
Players from across the competition will soon compete in a further series of exhibition games under Perth Gold until the end of September, before everyone heads into a well earned off season.
Earlier this week, following the extension of the Canberra lockdown to October the ACT & SNSW Rugby Union made the call to cancel the John I Dent Cup, marking the first time since 1944 that the competition had not seen a winner. It was a sad ending to what had been an incredible season of rugby in the Capital, with the competition joining the Dewar Shield and the Shute Shield as the third premier competition to be cancelled this year.
In a press release from Brumbies Media, the competition organisers said that ‘while every avenue was explored in attempting to conclude our season, the ongoing uncertainty around when and how community sport could return in both the ACT & NSW, alongside the required transition period of training to competition for contact sport meant that a resumption became unattainable.’
Brumbies General Manager Community Rugby and Deputy CEO, Craig Leseberg said: ‘Under the circumstances we believe this is the most responsible decision for our code and participants.
‘This will be a disappointing outcome for the multitude of players, coaches, volunteers, and match officials who have invested an extraordinary amount of time and effort this year. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone for your dedication and commitment.’
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As a result of this cancellation, the overall Australia club rugby season now sees only one more game to be played, and club rugby fans will turn to Adelaide for what will be an enthralling grand final.
COOPERS PREMIER GRADE GRAND FINAL - BURNSIDE VS BRIGHTON
In what will be a match of the giants in Adelaide, this weekend sees first and second go head to head, with the Premier Grade Trophy on the line.
Only two points separated the sides in the regular season, but Burnside was on the upper hand of that differentiation. Brushing aside Southern Suburbs 37-13 last week in the semi-finals, the minor premiers also hold an advantage over Brighton, having smashed them 59-5 in their last head-to-head clash.
However, anyone who thinks this weekend will be a walk in the park best underestimate Brighton at their peril. Having led the competition for most of the season, the 2020 winners have won three of the last four trophies, and while it took a big effort to knock off Old Collegians 29-25, the Tigers definitely have it in them to snatch the trophy away from the minor premiers.
This match will be a thrilling end to the Coopers Premier Grade, and to the Australian club rugby season for 2021!
Wherever you are, we hope you enjoy your club rugby this weekend. Stay safe, and we’ll see you in 2022!
