Club corner is back to preview the upcoming weekend of club footy across the country.
This weekend sees several competitions hit the halfway point of the season, while the Dewar Shield in Melbourne will endure it’s second week on the side lines with the lockdown, and the FMG Premier Grade in Perth has a general bye.
QUEENSLAND PREMIER GRADE - ROUND NINE
The Hospital Challenge Cup hits the halfway mark this weekend, with GPS closing the gap on first place following a thrilling away win from home against Wests. Despite that, eight points separates between them and first-placed University of Queensland. With Easts enjoying the bye this weekend, Bond University will host Souths, Sunnybank will host Norths, and GPS will look to continue their form against Brothers.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
UQ v Wests - a match that has a lot riding on it, Wests will be coming into this match hungry for retribution following their heartbreaking loss to GPS last week, and they may sniff an opportunity with the Red Heavies coming in cold after enjoying the bye. UQ are first place for a reason, however, so it would be hard pressed not to list them as favourites for this match.
Other fixtures:
Bond University v Souths
Sunnybank v Norths
GPS v Brothers
Easts - BYE
Watch every minute of the Hospital Challenge Cup on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND NINE
The Shute Shield is also close to hitting the halfway point in the season, with Norths holding a one point advantage over Sydney Uni at the top of the ladder, albeit having played one extra game. This weekend sees the Pirates enjoy the bye, with Gordon playing Eastwood, the Galloping Greens hosting the Students, Souths welcoming the Emus, the Two Blues heading up to Newcastle, and Eastern Suburbs hosting Norths.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Warringah v Manly: arguably the biggest derby match in the whole competition (which is saying something), the Battle of the Beaches resumes this weekend. The Rats are currently clinging to sixth place, having pushed some of the heavyweight sides in the last few rounds. By contrast, Manly is languishing in the bottom four of the ladder. Derbies however bring out surprise performances, and in front of what is expected to be a big crowd at Rat Park, all bets are off.
Other fixtures:
Gordon v Eastwood
Randwick v Sydney Uni
Souths v Penrith
Hunter Wildfires v Two Blues
Eastern Suburbs v Norths
West Harbour - BYE
Watch every minute of the Shute Shield on Stan Sport. Start your Free Sport Trial Now
JOHN I DENT CUP - ROUND SEVEN
The Vikings hold a very tight lead at the top of the ladder as the John I Dent Cup hits the halfway mark, with Uni-Norths currently within striking distance to challenge them. Wests and the Eagles make up the remaining top four, with Queanbeyan close behind. This weekend Norths will host the Whites and the Royals will look to get their first win when they host the Eagles.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Wests v Tuggeranong: The last few rounds have not been happy hunting for the Lions, with two losses and a draw. A win is desperately needed for them to get back in the hunt and keep the likes of Queanbeyan and Gungahlin at bay, and this weekend they host the Vikings, who they actually beat in this last fixture in late April. Tuggeranong have not dropped a game since that match, which will make this fixture a likely more dogged affair.
Other fixtures:
Uni-Norths v Queanbeyan
Canberra Royals v Gungahlin
READ MORE:
TEAMS:All the news for Round Four
MOVED:Rebels-Chiefs shifted to Sydney
BEWARE THE FRENCH:Reds learning from Kiwi lessons
FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - BYE
The FMG Premier Grade will enjoy a week off, with round nine of the competition set to resume on June 12th. We hope everyone in the West gets behind the Force this weekend as they take on the Crusaders!
DEWAR SHIELD - BYE
Following the announcement on Wednesday that the Victorian lockdown will be extended by a further seven days, Rugby Victoria issued the following statement regarding the status of the Dewar Shield:
‘Following today’s announcement from the Acting Premier, the current restrictions will remain in place in Melbourne until 11.59pm Thursday 10 June, with some small changes. Regional Victoria restrictions are proposed to begin easing from 11:59pm tomorrow night.
‘Following a meeting with Club and affiliate Presidents yesterday, Rugby Victoria is planning to re-commence community Rugby on Saturday 19 June, subject to State Government restrictions.
Rugby Victoria is working closely with club leaders over the coming days to finalise the updated fixtures.
‘Rugby Victoria is working closely with club leaders over the coming days to finalise the updated fixtures.
‘We will provide a further update over the coming days.’
We hope Victorian rugby fans get behind the Rebels this weekend as they play the Chiefs, and we hope everyone stays safe during lockdown.
COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND NINE
The halfway point of the season will be crossed this weekend in Adelaide, with eleven points separating the undefeated Brighton from the rest of the chasing pack. This week, Burnside will host Woodville, the Red Demons will host Elizabeth, Adelaide University will welcome Southern Suburbs, while Port Adelaide will travel to face Old Collegians.
All fixtures:
Burnside v Woodville
Onkaparinga v Elizabeth
Adelaide University v Southern Suburbs
Old Collegians v Port Adelaide
Brighton - BYE
TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND SIX
With several big thumpings over the course of round five, Launceston find themselves at the top of the ladder as the Tasmanian Grade approaches the halfway mark. This weekend they’ll host Glenorchy, University of Tasmania will welcome the Penguins, Harlequins will face the Lions, while the Burnie Emus will go up against the Devonport Bulls in the battle for the North.
All fixtures:
Launceston v Glenorchy
University of Tasmania v Taroona
Harlequins v Hobart Lions
Burnie Emus v Devonport
Wherever you are this weekend, we hope you enjoy your club footy!
