Beasties prepare for ‘do or die’ weekend against Parramatta

BACK-to-back  losses have Easts sitting out of finals contention in 10th place on the Shute Shield ladder.

Tala Gray in action for Easts against Eastwood in the Shute Shield rugby at Woollahra Oval. Picture: Craig Wilson

BACK-to-back  losses have Easts sitting out of finals contention in 10th place on the Shute Shield ladder.

The Beasties were outclassed at Woollahra Oval by Southern District Rebels, losing 34-12.

The Rebels looked strong, with captain Jed Holloway backing up after last Tuesday’s match for the Australian Barbarians.

He produced the play of the match, with a long-range intercept try, showing great pace to out run the scrambling Easts defence.

Tala Gray in action for Easts against Eastwood in the Shute Shield rugby at Woollahra Oval. Picture: Craig Wilson

Tala Gray in action for Easts against Eastwood in the Shute Shield rugby at Woollahra Oval. Picture: Craig Wilson

Rohan Saifoloi was in good form with the boot, finishing with 19 points.

Michael Fakava and Damon Anderson crossed the line for Easts, while Warwick Percival kicked one conversion.

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Easts coach Campbell Aitken said his side needed to lift its performance if it wanted to make the finals.

“The next two weeks is do or die,” Aitken said.

“If we don’t win then I wouldn’t think we could have much chance of making the finals.”

Easts take on competition leaders Eastwood in the Shute Shield rugby at Woollahra Oval. Picture: Craig Wilson

They take on fifth-placed Parramatta at Merrylands RSL Rugby Park on Saturday at 3pm.

“It will be very physical, they love playing us,” Aitken said. “If we match their physicality we will overcome them.”

The Beasties will need to be mindful of the individual brilliance of Parramatta’s key players, Aitken said.

“They are outstanding individuals, that’s what we need to watch for,” he said. “We are pretty confident we have a better team, but their individuals can produce moments of brilliance.”