Shute Shield preliminary finals: Inside the three big match ups
A blockbuster double-header and a Sunday match between two sides who haven’t seen each other since round four will make up the first week of Shute Shield finals. We look at the match ups.
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The preliminary finals games have been determined. One club hasn’t played the other since round four while another is out for revenge following an upset just a week ago.
There were tries galore, a big upset and a complete reshuffle of the top six in a thrilling final round to the regular season.
With positions two to six up for grabs there was plenty on the line for teams in the Shute Shield.
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And players didn’t disappoint with Eastern Suburbs rocking the table with their 81-24 victory over Randwick.
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Gordon held on against Eastwood to take that match 29-24, Sydney University beat the Two Blues 72-24, Hunter Wildfires beat Penrith 51-14, Warringah farewelled a number of retiring stars to beat Northern Suburbs 26-14 and West Harbour and Southern Districts played out a 45-45 draw.
At the end of the regular season Gordon finished with an 11-1 win loss record with Eastern Suburbs second (9-3) and followed by Norths (9-3) Sydney University (8-4), Eastwood (8-4) and Randwick (8-4).
Souths ended the season in seventh place followed by Warringah, Manly, West Harbour, Hunter wildfires, Two Blues and Penrith.
Penrith were the only team not to record a win across the season.
Northern Suburbs v Sydney University
One of the form teams of the 2020 competition against last years defending champions.
Sydney University were one of just three teams to take a win off Northern Suburbs this season.
The Students beat Norths 34 to 15 in round 12.
Last season Norths met Warringah in the preliminary finals and were beaten 24-7. A week later they faced Sydney University and were beaten 40-7.
In 2019, Sydney University beat Manly 47-31 in the first week of the play-offs and then Norths 40-7 in the second before taking on and downing Warringah in the grand final.
Gordon v Randwick
The minor premiers take on a Galloping Greens side emphatically beaten by Easts last round.
In their regular season clash, Gordon thrashed Randwick 42-15 in round eight.
Neither Gordon or Randwick made the play-offs in 2019.
Gordon finished the 2019 competition in seventh place with eight wins one draw and seven losses.
Randwick finished in eighth place with seven wins and nine losses.
Eastern Suburbs v Eastwood
The most evenly matched game of the preliminary finals.
These two haven’t met since round four of the Shute Shield when Eastwood ran out 20-17 winners.
Easts, however, have found great form in the second half of the season thanks to an influx of returning Super Rugby players.
In 2019, Eastwood beat Eastern Suburbs 24-21 in the preliminary final.
A week later Eastwood were beaten 22-15 by Warringah, who finished runners up in the competition to Sydney University..
PRELIMINARY FINAL
Saturday: Pittwater Rugby Park
Northern Suburbs v Sydney University, 1:55pm
Gordon v Randwick, 4pm
Sunday: Pittwater Rugby Park
Eastern Suburbs v Eastwood, 3pm