Shute Shield injury toll ahead of Gordon v Easts, Norths v Eastwood
Elimination finals spots have been booked but so have multiple appointments with doctors and specialists. One team is looking in particularly bad shape and another has a lost a star player.
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They have lead the competition ladder for most of the season and now Gordon are heading the list of teams most ravaged by injuries heading into the elimination finals.
Gordon and Northern Suburbs on Saturday both booked their spots in this coming weekend’s elimination finals with wins over Randwick and Sydney University respectively.
While a win or a loss would have secured Gordon a spot, their one point victory over Randwick ended the Galloping Greens season.
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It also saw five of their men leave the field injured, including the returning winger Brandon Quinn and Waratah Joey Walton.
“We had to replace five guys and Robbie Abel, our hooker, he is the worst one,” Coleman said.
“He was carried off after 20 minutes and is in for scans on his ankle but out for the season.
“We lost our prop Dom Hardman with a knee issue and we are awaiting scans.
“Second rower Brendan Mitchell injured his knee, Joey Walton hurt his shoulder and winger Brandon’s Quinn’s knee flared up.
“We’ve definitely lost Robbie and at least one other.’’
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Coleman said the match was a difficult one to motivate for.
“It was a bad day out, our worst attacking performance of the year,” Coleman said of the 15-14 result.
“It was a tricky game to motivate for. One team is fighting for survival and the other know already knows it is in.”
In contrast it was a great day out for Northern Suburbs who avenged their loss to Sydney University a fortnight ago to secure their elimination final spot.
Being able to plan for the week ahead of is great. Normally you would be wrapping them in cotton wool
Northern Suburbs came from behind to snatch a 24-22 win off Sydney University with brothers Angus and Hugh Sinclair scoring 14 of Norths points between them in the preliminary final.
The win came just two weeks after Norths were downed by the Students 34-15.
“To come out with no injuries is the most pleasing thing,” said North’s coaching director Zak Beer.
“Being able to plan for the week ahead of is great. Normally you would be wrapping them in cotton wool.”
Eastern Suburbs lost their preliminary final match against Eastwood and also one of their stars.
Missing from their finals campaign will be Rob Leota who broke his ankle in the last play of the East loss.
“Injury wise we came out OK except for Rob,’’ said coach Pauli Taumoepeau.
“Everyone else looks good to go.
Eastwood coach Ben Batger believes his side enter the eliminations finals relatively unscathed.
I think we are reasonably good. I haven’t head of anything yet,’’ he said.
Gordon will play Easts on Saturday and Norths will take on Eatswood on Sunday.
PRELIMINARY FINAL RESULTS
GAME ONE
NORTHS 24 (R Mau’u, H Brendel, H Sinclair tries; A Sinclair 3 con, pen goal) defeated SYDNEY UNI 22 (J Kemeny, R O’Regan tries; pen try; S Dunbar con, pen goal)
GAME TWO
GORDON 15 (J Widders-Leece, A Tuimalelealiifano tries; R Iona con, pen goal) defeated RANDWICK 14 (T Reilly try; B Donaldson 3 con)
GAME THREE
EASTWOOD 29 (E Craig, M Nawaqanitawase, L Anderson tries; penalty try; T Edmed 2 con, pen goal)
EASTS 20 (A Newsome, H Paterson, R Woolf tries: D Donato con, pen goal)