Club Corner is back for another weekend, with plenty of mouth-watering clashes for the rugby faithful nationwide this weekend.
If there is one theme for this upcoming weekend, it is big derby clashes. Heavyweights and long time rivals are set to go head to head, and with good weather forecast for nearly all the capital cities, it’ll be an ideal way to enjoy your Mother’s Day weekend.
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NEW SOUTH WALES: CHARTER HALL SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND SEVEN
The pride of Hunter rugby is shining through in this year’s Shute Shield, with the Wildfires opening up a commanding five point lead at the top of the ladder. Continuing to build on the great form shown last year, the Novocastrians cemented their growth and ability to win away from home with a demolition of Warringah at Rat Park. Other results saw Gordon overcome the Pirates at Concord in a thriller, the Two Blues won big at Forshaw, and Eastern Suburbs and the Woodies picked up big scalps in Sydney Uni and Norths respectively.
This weekend will see the ladder change even more, as the Two Blues head to Coogee, Gordon host Easts in Chatswood, and Souths try to restart their form against an underperforming Uni. However, two clashes will likely dominate the weekend: the first being the top of the table clash up in Newcastle, as the Wildfires look to push further ahead when they take on Norths.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Manly v Warringah
Any other weekend (and I mean ANY other weekend), the Wildfires-Norths clash would be the match of the round. But this weekend, it’s falling on probably the biggest derby in Australian club rugby: the battle of the beaches! Both sides are always up and always hungry for this clash, and the club rugby faithful will be filling the hill once again at Rat Park. Performance wise, Manly will come into this game as heavy favourites, sitting fourth on the ladder. The Rats by comparison are sitting dead last, but that could work in their favour given their shock win over Eastern Suburbs a fortnight ago has shown they have it in them to perform much better.
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
Gordon v Eastern Suburbs
Randwick v Two Blues
Souths v Sydney Uni
Eastwood v West Harbour
Hunter Wildfires v Norths
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Rising Player
While they don’t get the match of the round, the quality of the Hunter Wildfires has been hard to ignore. Shoutout to Rob Puliuvea who has not only been steering the ship as skipper, but also served as a key part of what has made the Wildfires set piece so good. A particular highlight last week was his work in the team maul try that saw them push pack Warringah nearly thirty metres!
QUEENSLAND: STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP - ROUND SEVEN
The derbies continue over into Queensland this weekend, following another great round that saw all games decided by a converted try or less! Souths, GPS and UQ all pulled thrilling four point wins over Easts, Brothers and Sunnybank respectively. Norths look to have turned a corner as well following their much needed win last week, pushing a strong Bond Uni side all the way but eventually going down at home.
This weekend while the Eagles have the bye, several fantastic derby clashes loom. The Uni derby returns between UQ and Bond University, GPS will host the Dragons, while Souths will welcome the Brethren.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Wests v Easts
It’s the top of the table travelling to face the current champions at Sci-Fleet Stadium. What more do you want? Wests sit in fifth but are only four points behind the Tigers, so a win here in front of the Bulldog faithful would be just the shot they need to remind the competition that the Hospital Cup won’t be easily taken this year. Easts, despite being at the top of the ladder, have felt like they’ve been slipping under the radar a bit, which goes to show how close the comp is this year. With other critical clashes this weekend, this is also a great opportunity for them to open up some breathing space at the top of the ladder.
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
Norths - BYE
UQ v Bond University
GPS v Sunnybank
Souths v Brothers
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Rising Player
Despite going down last week, GPS have a great flyhalf prospect in Sebastian Ward, who had a solid day out with the boot and proved to be a great attacking weapon in a dangerous backline. Keep a watch on this player this weekend up against the Dragons!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND EIGHT
It’s Belt Up round out in WA this weekend, and if round seven is anything to go by, you better buckle up! Similar to Queensland, all games bar one in the Premier Grade saw Perth Bayswater, Associates, Wests and UWA all scraped home by a margin of six points or less! The exception was the Palms, who stunned an out-of-sorts Nedlands with a romping victory away from home, 14-64.
This weekend, with Wanneroo enjoying the bye, several big clashes loom as part of Belt Up, with Perth Bayswater coming up against the Bulls, Southern Lions welcome Cottesloe back off the bye, Joondalup face Nedlands, and Palmyra are tasked with taking down a surging Wests Scarborough outfit.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Associates v UWA (Live on Stan Sport)
Probably the biggest clash of the weekend, it’s been the case so far in the competition of many teams coming close but falling short in knocking off the Students, who still remain undefeated at the top of the ladder. They just find ways to win! Associates however haven’t dropped a game since round three, and that has included some big scalps in that winning streak. They will sniff an opportunity to take that form and supercharge their season with a win here against one of their rivals.
Other Fixtures
Wanneroo - BYE
Southern Lions v Cottesloe
Perth Bayswater v Kalamunda (YouTube Live Stream)
Joondalup v Nedlands
Palmyra v Wests Scarborough
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Rising Player
Ned Slack-Smith was in great form for Palmyra as they carved through Nedlands at the weekend. Making a nuisance of himself out in open play and in set piece, the loose forward looks like a very exciting prospect for WA rugby!
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: BENTSPOKE JOHN I DENT CUP - ROUND FIVE
The John I Dent Cup is an enigma wrapped in a riddle so far this season, with round four seeing a return to one-sided demolitions across all games. Wests mauled the Emus, the Vikings put nearly forty on the Eagles, and in the biggest surprise of the round, Queanbeyan smashed the Canberra Royals at home.
All three winning teams have opened up a six point lead already on the ladder over the chasing pack. This weekend however is likely to be a much closer affair. While the Eagles will welcome an Emus side desperate for a more positive performance, Uni-Norths will come off the bye to face a flying Tuggeranong team down at ANU.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Queanbeyan Whites v Wests Lions
The Lions have been looking very strong in the opening round of the competition, building on several seasons of promising results to look like a genuine contender this year. But if they want to send a warning shot to the comp, they have to beat the reigning premiers, and where better than to do it across the border. Queanbeyan are still to drop a game this season, and with the ladder opening up like it is these clashes loom as being more and more critical if they wish to be back to back champions.
Other Fixtures
Canberra Royals - BYE
Gungahlin Eagles v Penrith Emus
Uni-Norths v Tuggeranong Vikings
Rising Player
Wests’ Declan Meredith takes the chocolates this weekend with a fantastic performance against Penrith, picking up two tries and eight conversions for his efforts. He’ll have a big shift this weekend down across the border.
VICTORIA: VALO DEWAR SHIELD - ROUND THREE
So that got out of hand quickly! If there was one theme that came out of Round Two of the Dewar Shield, it was one of upset results! Harlequins and Endeavour Hills continued their good form, but the big surprises came when Power House were demolished at home by last year’s wooden spooners in Footscray, while Melbourne University continued to build their form and deliver on the growth shown last year, stunning the Unicorns at Melbourne Rugby Club for the first time in a decade.
All that said, it looks like this year's Dewar Shield is going to be a very different competition to years previous. Bring it on! With diversity round front and centre this weekend, Box Hill welcomes the Students, the Rams and Power House square off looking to get their seasons back on track, and Endeavour Hills will welcome a rampaging Footscray.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Harlequins v Melbourne Unicorns (Live on MSL)
Staying true to our form of exciting derby matches nationwide, last year’s premiers come up against one of the strongest teams in the competition. The matches between these two sides were some of the best matches to watch last year, and with the Unicorns reeling from their loss to Uni they’ll likely be determined to try and restart their season. Harlequins look to have picked up where they left off after last year, so expect them to make a statement as well this weekend.
Other Fixtures (Live on MSL)
Endeavour Hills v Footscray
Moorabbin v Power House
Box Hill v Melbourne University
Rising Player
Sticking with the Uni defeat of Melbourne, Tom Herbst put in a fantastic shift on the wing, showing great form and proving instrumental in his side’s historic win. Expect Box Hill to have a handful keeping this weapon contained this weekend!
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND FIVE
Elizabeth proved themselves to be a strong contender this season, throwing a spanner in the works of the Coopers Premier Grade and ending Southern Suburbs unbeaten run last round. Brighton, Old Collegians and Onkaparinga all claimed big wins to cap off the round, which saw big shifts in the overall ladder.
This weekend, Brighton will take on Adelaide Uni, Burnside will face Port Adelaide, and the Knights will look to continue their growing form against Woodville.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Old Collegians v Southern Suburbs
The Bulls will be hurting after their loss to Elizabeth at Womma Reserve, and a loss here could see them out of the top of the ladder. They’ll be hungry for a win against an improving Old Colls team, who will sniff an opportunity to jump up the ladder with a win here.
Other Fixtures
Onkaparinga - BYE
Burnside v Port Adelaide
Brighton v Adelaide Uni
Elizabeth v Woodville (live on Rugby Union South Australia - Facebook)
TASMANIA: TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND THREE
Finishing off in the Apple Isle, with the exception of one result we saw huge wins for Launceston, Taroona and Burnie Emus, with the Tigers putting nearly a century on Devonport.
This weekend, they’ll be welcoming Harlequins to Royal Park. Devonport will face an improving Uni side, the Stags will look to make amends for their big loss when they face the Lions, and Taroona and Burnie will face off in what will likely be the match of the round.
Fixtures
Launceston v Harlequins
Taroona v Burnie
Devonport v Tasmania University
Glenorchy v Hobart Hutchins Lions
Enjoy your club rugby this weekend, wherever you are! Happy Mother’s Day!
