It was like it was round one yesterday, but suddenly we’re hurtling towards the halfway point of the regular season.
Club Corner this week sees several top of the table clashes in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia, with bragging rights and potential finals places at stake.
QUEENSLAND PREMIER GRADE - ROUND SIX
After picking up a critical win on the Gold Coast, GPS heads into a bye weekend guaranteed keeping their position at the top half of the ladder, but their absence leaves several teams with plenty to play for! Souths will try their luck against Norths, Wests will host Sunnybank and look to try and grab third place on the ladder, while Brothers will sense a great opportunity to heap more pain on last year’s premiers Easts when they host them at Crosby Park.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Bond University v University of Queensland - an important clash for both sides, many have touted this upcoming university derby match as one of the most important this season. The Bullsharks currently sit in third, and with a chasing pack in Wests and Brothers not far behind they need to grab a win here and close the gap. But for the Red Heavies, a win here is a huge opportunity. Currently two points ahead of GPS at the top of the ladder, a win here pushes them even further ahead from the competition.
Other fixtures:
Souths v Norths
Wests v Sunnybank
Brothers v Easts
GPS - BYE
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SHUTE SHIELD - ROUND SIX
The Shute Shield ladder is turning into a traffic jam, with only ten points separating first and sixth. With Uni and Norths currently setting the pace, multiple teams will have critical fixtures this weekend to try and keep touch. Souths will be desperate to grab a second win when they host the Wildfires, Warringah hosts the Emus, the Galloping Greens will face a tough assignment when they host Gordon and Eastern Suburbs will face the Students
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Norths v Eastwood: A beauty of a match awaits at North Sydney Oval this Saturday, as Northern Suburbs continue to put pressure on Sydney Uni. The Shoreman have put in a great couple of performances and look like the more rounded team, but they face one of the most exciting attacking sides so far in the competition in Eastwood. While attack has been excellent, defence has been left a lot to be desired for the Woodies. However, if they sure that up they’ll prove to be a very formidable side.
Other fixtures:
Randwick v Gordon
Souths v Hunter Wildfires
Eastern Suburbs v Sydney Uni
Manly v West Harbour
Warringah v Penrith
Two Blues - BYE
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JOHN I DENT CUP - ROUND FIVE
Round Five sees the competition in the balance in Canberra, with Queanbeyan Whites announcing their arrival by handing Wests their first defeat of the season. They head into this weekend hosting the Royals at home, while the Vikings will make the trip north to face Gungahlin.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Uni-Norths v Wests: an important match for both teams, Uni-Norths may have an opportunity to jump up to first place should they hand the Lions their second loss on the trot. The men from the West will likely be up for this clash, given the context of what a loss here might mean for their season.
Other fixtures:
Queanbeyan v Royals
Gungahlin v Tuggeranong
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FORTESCUE PREMIER GRADE - ROUND SIX
Three points separate first and sixth in Perth, and considering the contest of the clashes we will likely see the makeup of the traffic jam change considerably this weekend. Nedlands will look to take top spot when they host Associates, the Cavaliers will look to continue their form against Perth Bayswater, while Brothers will face the Gulls.
RUGBY.com.au Match Of The Round:
Palmyra v Wests Scarborough: A clash between first and fourth where only a few point separate them, Palmyra will sense a great opportunity here to leapfrog Nedlands and potentially claim top spot. Wests were brought underdone last week against Wanneroo, so a second loss on the trot here could see them drop several places down the ladder.
Other fixtures:
Wanneroo v Curtin Uni
Coastal Cavaliers v Perth Bayswater
Kalamunda v Southern Lions
Nedlands v Associates
UWA v ARKs
Joondalup v Cottesloe
DEWAR SHIELD - ROUND FIVE
After a big round last week, Melbourne Unicorns remain the only team unbeaten in the Dewar Shield. Several of the chasing pack find themselves up against each other this weekend, with Endeavour Hills facing the Rams, Footscray taking on Uni.
RUGBY.com.au Match of The Round
Harlequins v Power House: Harlequins finally looked like the team of old over the weekend as they put fifty on Box Hill. Power House meanwhile saw their chase on the unicorns dented with a close loss to Morrabbin. Given the lead the Unicorns currently have, a win here for both sides will be critical if they are to catch them.
Other Fixtures:
Footscray v Melbourne Uni
Endeavour Hills v Morrabbin
Box Hill v Melbourne
COOPERS PREMIER GRADE - ROUND SIX
Brighton go into this round with a six point buffer and still to drop a game, and given the closeness of the rest of the competition their dominance is only going to benefit them further. With Old Collegians having the bye Woodville will host Onkaparinga, Southern Suburbs will host Elizabeth, Brighton will host Port Adelaide, and Burnside will host Uni.
All fixtures:
Woodville v Onkaparinga
Southern Suburbs v Elizabeth
Brighton v Port Adelaide
Burnside v Adelaide University
Old Collegians - BYE
TASMANIAN PREMIER GRADE - ROUND THREE
Round three sees several heavyweight teams clash in the Tasmanian competition, with Taroona travelling to face Harlequins, Devonport facing Gelnorchy, and Burnie Emus hosting the Hobart Lions. While it is still early days in the season, the strength of several sides is already coming through in this year’s competition.
All fixtures:
Devonport v Glenorchy
University of Tasmania v Launceston
Harlequins v Taroona
Burnie Emus v Hobart Lions
Wherever you are this weekend, we hope you enjoy your club footy!
