The club season heads towards its climax, and it starts in the East with the penultimate round of the regular season this weekend.
The Shute Shield, Hospital Cup, John I Dent Cup and Dewar Shield all enter their final fortnight of the regular season, and the final month of competitions. Bar the Vikings in Canberra, all competitions are an open race, and will make for thrilling viewing this weekend.
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NEW SOUTH WALES: CHARTER HALL SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND SEVENTEEN
Starting in the Harbour City, the first two slots have been locked in for finals, with Norths and Randwick now guaranteed to take part in finals regardless of results. Results from the previous weekend have also firmly placed West Harbour, Eastern Suburbs, Warringah and Southern Districts out of finals for good.
However, that means six teams are still up in the air, and this weekend looms as the crucial round for the late charging teams out of finals currently, being Western Sydney and Sydney University.
This weekend the Two Blues have a must-win clash against Gordon, the Hunter Wildfires will look to make history by claiming a maiden finals berth when they travel to West Harbour, and Manly faces Warringah in the Battle of the Beaches, a game that could determine in the Marlins hold on to their tenuous finals position.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Sydney University v Eastwood
One of the great rivalries will play out again at University Sports Ground No. 2, and for the current premiers Sydney Uni, it’s now or never. True to previous history, they have discovered their late season form and are within striking distance of knocking either Gordon, the Wildfires or Manly out of contention.
However, they’ve left it to the last moment to do so, and standing in their way is an imposing Eastwood side who currently sit in third and are looking sure up a home quarter final. While their form has been inconsistent in the latter half of the season, when they’ve been on they’ve looked unstoppable, and they’ll know the significance of this fixture.
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
Gordon v Two Blues
West Harbour v Hunter Wildfires
Randwick v Souths
Eastern Suburbs v Norths
Warringah v Manly
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Rising Player
Exciting young loose forward Tom Silk has been killing it for the Galloping Greens after a solid stint at Gordon. Highlighting the strength of Australia’s loose forward depth, with plenty of pace and a good habit of causing chaos for opposition, expect him to have a decent performance this weekend and keep Randwick trucking towards a minor premiership.
QUEENSLAND: STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP - ROUND SEVENTEEN
In a similar vein to the competition south of the border, things are extremely tight in the last fortnight in Brisbane. Bond University and Easts Tigers, following crucial wins over UQ and Wests respectively, are now locked in for finals. As a result, UQ is set to miss out on Hospital Cup finals for the first time in over a decade, joining Sunnybank and Norths in the eliminated camp.
For Wests, Brothers, Souths and GPS, finals is still a chance, and this weekend looms as a critical game for all four. UQ will play their final match of the year when they take on Norths, GPS face a tough assignment as they welcome the Bull Sharks, and Souths welcome Sunnybank.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Wests v Brothers
Wests sit in third, and with an opportunity to jump up into second looming, the current premiers will be looking to stave off any of the chasing pack with a win over Brothers. While GPS have a tough assignment on their hands, things are looking more favourable for Souths, and Brothers know that a loss here will be critical for their season. While they likely won’t be able to climb much higher than third, a win here cuts off the chasing pack for good, and sets their momentum for a solid finals campaign.
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
Easts - BYE
UQ v Norths
GPS v Bond University
Souths v Sunnybank
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Rising Player
Shoutout to Easts Tigers Sam Farrar, who has been on fire down in Colts for Easts Tigers, and who has picked up a mammoth 130 points throughout the season. This kid knows how to kick a ball and score a try!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND NINETEEN
Meanwhile, out in the West, we start the final month of the regular season, and currently Palmyra has swept all before to take a commanding leading over the competition, with a game in hand. It caps off a solid weekend in round eighteen, where the Southern Lions upset UWA, Bayswater overcame a stubborn Wanneroo, and Wests continued their late season resurgence.
This weekend, twelve members of the Western Force squad will be out playing in clubland, as UWA take on Associates, Cottesloe face the Lions, Nedlands host Joondalup and Bayswater travel to Hartfield Reserve to take on the Bulls.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Wests Scarborough v Palmyra (Live on Stan Sport)
How can you not? The two in-form teams, the current premiers at home taking on the current contenders. Palmyra are peaking at the right time this season and have looked extremely dangerous in the last few rounds, and while they might be considered favourites, Wests have been in this position before this season and had a knack of producing their best footy when the stronger sides are expected to win. Even with finals looming in the East, this is a contender for the club game to watch this weekend.
Other Fixtures
Wanneroo - BYE
UWA v Associates
Kalamunda v Perth Bayswater
Nedlands v Joondalup
Cottesloe v Southern Lions
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Rising Player
This one is for the classic props: Nedlands Meli Sifa is an exciting young gun who is coming through the ranks, with a classic rock that anchors the scrum, not to mention an explosive player in contact. Keep a watch on this talent.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: BENTSPOKE JOHN I DENT CUP - ROUND SIXTEEN
As the final fortnight of footy looms in the capital, a stunning turn of events and an influx of thirteen Brumbies into clubland has seen the gap close on the Vikings, with them going down for the second consecutive week to their rivals the Canberra Royals. Despite the results, finals looks all but locked in, with Wests Lions win over Uni-Norths setting up a mammoth twelve point buffer between fourth place and fifth placed Queanbeyan.
As a result, we already know for certain that the Vikings, Eagles, Royals and Lions are guaranteed the first week of semi finals. Outside of the Vikings as minor premiers however, where the other three sit remains to be seen. This weekend, Uni-Norths take on the Royals, while the Vikings welcome Queanbeyan to the south side.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Gungahlin Eagles v Wests Lions
Both sides have been producing quality results and the clashes between the two are increasingly proving critical in the context of the John I Dent Cup season, and with them in a tussle for second place, expect this weekend to be no different. Gungahlin will have home field advantage which will be tough to beat, but the Lions are showing themselves to be strong contenders on their day.
Other Fixtures
Penrith Emus - BYE
Uni-North Owls v Canberra Royals
Tuggeranong Vikings v Queanbeyan Whites
Rising Player
Even despite being surrounded with Brumbies, Declan Meredith put in a stellar performance for the Lions in their win over the Owls. An exciting flyhalf with plenty of explosive power, he looks to be taking advantage of every opportunity. Expect to see him a lot more in Brumbies colours!
VICTORIA: VAILO DEWAR SHIELD - ROUND THIRTEEN
The Unicorns are back! A thrilling round twelve of the Dewar Shield saw big scores and a consolidating of the ladder for the likes of Endeavour Hills and Harlequins. While the top two are locked in for finals, Power House, Melbourne Uni, Footscray and Melbourne are still in a tussle for the remaining two positions, which makes the next fortnight especially interesting.
This weekend, Melbourne Uni face the Rams, Power House take on Box Hill, and Endeavour Hills look to see off the Unicorns.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Footscray v Harlequins
It’s been a wild ride for Footscray in 2023, turning around several difficult seasons to now find themselves clinging to a top four position in the penultimate round. The draw however is not kind to them, and with Uni set to face the cellar dwellers in Moorabbin this match looms as a critical one for the hosts.
Harlequins have gotten back to winning form but will be desperate to recapture that confidence and sure up the minor premiership, so this weekend looms as vital for them too.
Other Fixtures
Endeavour Hills v Melbourne Unicorns
Power House v Box Hill
Moorabbin v Melbourne University
Rising Player
Kitione Ratu put in a fantastic performance for Footscray, having a stellar day with the kicking tee and grabbing two tries for his efforts as the hosts put sixty on the Rams. Expect this player to have a big game this weekend.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND FOURTEEN
An eight point buffer has opened up between the top four teams in Brighton, Burnside, Souths and Old Collegians in the Coopers Premier Grade, and should the current form continue, this weekend will likely loom as the last chance the likes of Elizabeth or Onkaparinga can salvage a surprise finals berth.
This weekend, Port Adelaide face Burnside, Southern Suburbs host Old Collegians, Adelaide Uni take on Brighton, and Woodville host Elizabeth.
Fixtures
Onkaparinga - BYE
Port Adelaide v Burnside
Souths v Old Collegians
Adelaide University v Brighton
Woodville v Elizabeth
TASMANIA: TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND ELEVEN
The Apple Isle heads into the last month of the regular season, where Launceston and Taroona continue to open up a gap at the top of the ladder. Eight points separates the current top four from the chasing pack, which makes the next fortnight even more critical.
This weekend Uni faces Burnie, Taroona hosts Devonport, the Lions welcome the Tigers and Glenorchy welcome Harlequins.
Fixtures
Tasmania University v Burnie Emus
Taroona v Devonport
Hobart Hutchins Lions v Launceston
Glenorchy v Harlequins
Enjoy your club rugby this weekend, wherever you are!
