Club Corner is back for another weekend, and as hard as it is to believe, we are starting to approach the middle of the regular season for most premier grade comps. Time flies when you’re having fun!
Fortunately, there are still plenty of fantastic clashes that rugby fans are set to enjoy this weekend!
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NEW SOUTH WALES: CHARTER HALL SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND NINE
The halfway point of the regular season is here for the Shute Shield, with Round 8 delivering plenty of surprises, including over one hundred points being scored between Eastwood and the Rats, a commanding performance by Gordon on campus, and most notably, Souths stunning the Wildfires at home to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
Hunter still hold the top of the ladder, but with their lead now all but wiped out they’ll have plenty of work to if they want to keep to their goal of lifting the shield. This week, the Students welcome West Harbour, the Two Blues head to Woollahra Oval, and Randwick welcomes Eastwood to Coogee.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Gordon v Hunter Wildfires
Following their win over the Students, Gordon have now consolidated their position in second place and will now look to chase down the Wildfires. Fortunately for all of us, that chase is literally decided this weekend when the Hunter comes down to Chatswood Oval. This is going to be a thrilling clash, the Wildfires will be hurting after their loss to Souths at home after such a commanding start to the season. It’ll be their job to ensure that loss was only a blip, and not the start of a decline. Top of the table clash, you’d hate to miss it!
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
Randwick v Eastwood
Manly v Souths
Warringah v Norths
Sydney Uni v West Harbour
Eastern Suburbs v Two Blues
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Rising Player
With a result like the one in Newcastle last week, how can it NOT go to a member of the Rebels. Archie Hosking played out of his skin in his sides win over the Wildfires, not only impressing in general play but grabbing a try for his efforts.
QUEENSLAND: STORELOCAL HOSPITAL CUP - ROUND NINE
The halfway point has also arrived in Queensland, and with only four points separating fifth and first, we are set for an extremely tight run home in Brisbane. Bond University now sit atop the hierarchy following their win over GPS, while Souths, Wests and UQ all jagged wins.
This weekend the Red Heavies take a much-needed bye, GPS take on Norths, Wests host Sunnybank, and the Magpies will welcome Bond University.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Easts v Brothers
Easts will be fresh off the bye and will be coming back into the contest in a positive space, currently sitting in second on the ladder and grabbing an away from home with over premiers Wests. However, they’ll be up against a Brothers side hurting from being pipped at home by the Bulldogs, and with the ladder as tight as it is, the Brethren can’t afford consecutive losses.
Other Fixtures (Live on Stan Sport)
UQ - BYE
GPS v Norths
Wests v Sunnybank
Souths v Bond University
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Rising Player
Shoutout to the Prince of Ballymore himself, Junior Laloifi, who put in a solid shift for the Dragons and picking up a meat pie for his efforts. We still remember that beautiful match winning try in the inaugural NRC Grand Final!
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND TEN
After this weekend, the Fortescue Premier Grade still sits a fortnight off from the halfway point of the season, and with such a marathon run of a competition teams will be looking to blood new talent for finals. UWA is still the team to beat, and in thrilling fashion last week the Bayswater did so, prevailing 32-31 over the Students for the upset of the round.
This weekend Associates travel to face Brothers, Palmyra welcome Kalamunda, Nedlands host Wanneroo and Wests Scarborough have their work cut out when they host the high flying Bayswater.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - UWA v Cottesloe (Live on Stan Sport)
What else could it be? The current team to beat up against one of the strongest teams in the last five years, both sitting in the top of the ladder. The Library will be the setting for a fantastic day of rugby, with UWA looking to re-establish their dominance with a good performance at home. The Gulls might sit in third but they will be up for this clash, having not put a foot wrong since their loss to Wests in round six.
Other Fixtures
Southern Liopns - BYE
Wests Scarborough v Perth Bayswater
Nedlands v Wanneroo
Joondalup v Associates
Palmyra v Kalamunda
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Rising Player
He may be enjoying the bye this weekend, but shout out to Southern Lions flyhalf Serupepeli Vularika. The growth of the Lions over the last two seasons has been impressive to watch, and a big reason for their attacking strength has been off the back of the platform he sets. Selected as the Player of the Month, and for good reason!
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: BENTSPOKE JOHN I DENT CUP - ROUND SEVEN
The John I Dent Cup ladder has divided up even further following the performance of several teams in Round Six. Tuggeranong are now the team to beat after putting away the Whites in convincing fashion, while the Eagles put themselves back into contention with a strong win over the Lions. The big surprise was the Royals dispatching the Owls, showing glimpses of their great form of a few seasons ago and that they could be well on their way to rediscovering it again.
This weekend the Owls host Queanbeyan, the Emus come off the bye and face a tough assignment down at Viking Park, and the Lions will enjoy the bye.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Gungahlin Eagles v Canberra Royals
Are the Royals the real deal? Now is their chance to show it! Coming up against a surging Eagles side, the Royals will have their work cut out, but a win here sees them into the top four, and with the ladder the way it is staying there is going to prove a vitally important part of any team's season. The Eagles will likely be favourites for this match, having looked in great form the last fortnight.
Other Fixtures
Wests Lions - BYE
Uni-North Owls v Queanbeyan Whites
Tuggeranong Vikings v Penrith Emus
Rising Player
Dylan McLachlan had a strong showing for the Royals in their win over Uni-Norths at fly half, and with his pairing with Pedro Rolando it’s clear that the continued growth of the Royals back to winning ways will be off the back of this partnership. Dylan unleashed a strong backline over the weekend, showing us how much capability really rests with the Royals.
VICTORIA: VALO DEWAR SHIELD - ROUND FIVE
The tables continue to turn in the Dewar Shield, with surprise after surprise! While Harlequins got the win over Hills in a thriller, Box Hill surprised the Rams, Power House got back to winning ways against Uni, and Footscray pulled off the upset of the comp so far in defeating the Unicorns.
This weekend Moorabbin will try to get off the bottom over the ladder when they face Melbourne, Footscray travel to face Box Hill, and Power House will look to build on their form when they take on the Quins.
MATCH OF THE ROUND - Endeavour Hills v Melbourne University (Live on MSL & Rugby Victoria Facebook Page)
Another top of the table clash looms out at Endeavour Hills this weekend as the Students look to further push their case for Shield honours. The big improvers over the last year, they’ll have their work cut out against the hosts, who until last week hadn’t put a foot wrong, and even in their loss showed enough fight that the game could have gone either way. Expect a thriller at the Hills!
Other Fixtures (Live on MSL)
Power House v Harlequins
Melbourne Unicorns v Moorabbin
Box Hill v Footscray
Rising Player
Cian McGovern put in a great shift for Power House in their win over Moorabbin, displaying great rugby smarts and laying a strong platform to launch the backline. As Power House grow into their season, expect Cian to do the same!
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND SEVEN
The Coopers Premier Grade continues to heat up, as Burnside, Southern Suburbs, Onkaparinga and Elizabeth all grabbing strong wins and reinforcing their position at the top of the ladder.
With Brighton back off the bye this weekend, expect them to push hard for the top of the ladder. They host Port Adelaide this weekend, Burnside take on Souths, and Woodville welcome Uni to Gleneagles Reserve.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Onkaparinga v Old Collegians (live on Rugby Union South Australia - Facebook)
Onkas have progressed substantially in their last few rounds, but this week they come up against an Old Colls side reeling from their loss at home to Burnside. Expect a big clash at Wilfred Taylor Reserve!
Other Fixtures
Elizabeth - BYE
Woodville v Adelaide Uni
Burnside v Souths
Brighton v Port Adelaide
TASMANIA: TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND FIVE
Lastly, Tasmanian rugby saw a great weekend during round four, with Taroona prevailing 19-20 in their grudge match over the Bulls, Harlequins putting away a spirited Glenorchy, and Burnie Emus and Launceston grabbing huge wins.
This weekend the Stags will welcome the Emus, Uni having a tough assignment facing the Tigers, and Devonport travelling to face Harlequins.
Fixtures
Harlequins v Devonport
Tasmania University v Launceston
Taroona v Hobart Hutchins Lions
Glenorchy v Burnie Emus
Enjoy your club rugby this weekend, wherever you are!
