Shute Shield finals race: can your club make the finals? Results, run to final, ladder
The calculators are out as Shute Shield coaches begin to work out what needs to be done for their clubs to make the finals. And right now teams are on a razors edge.
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Just four games to go and there are some very nervous teams in the Shute Shield.
While positions at the top are pretty much locked in, there’s plenty of potential for big movement on the league ladder heading into round 10.
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Gordon leads the table with eight wins from eight outings with Norths second with just one blemish in their eight games.
But under these two pacesetters are some nervous coaches.
Eastwood 45 Manly 27
Eastwood is in third place on the ladder with six wins and three losses and 32 points.
Manly is in eighth place with three wins five losses and draw on 21 points.
THE RUN HOME
EASTWOOD: Rd 10: Penrith, Rd 11: Bye, Rd 12: Warringah, Rd 13: Gordon.
MANLY: Rd 10: Eastern Suburbs, Rd 11: Randwick, Rd 12: Southern Districts, Rd 13: Bye
“We have three more games to play and we need to win them all,” Eastwood coach Ben Batger said.
So to do Manly if they are to have any chance of making the playoffs this season.
In the match against the Marlins on Saturday, Eastwood’s try scorers were Willie Leoso, Fabian Goodall, Ed Craig, Enoka Muliufi, Ratu Tuisese and Matthew Gonzales.
Manly’s tries were scored by Max Douglas, Alex Dalzell and Harry Emory, who went over twice.
Gordon 56 Southern Districts 21
Gordon is on top of the ladder with eight wins from eight games and on 40 points.
Southern Districts are in seventh place with five wins three losses on 25 points.
THE RUN HOME
GORDON: Rd 10: Norths, Rd 11: Sydney University, Rd 12: Penrith, Rd 13: Eastwood.
SOUTHERN DISTRICTS: Rd 10: Hunter Wildfires, Rd 11: Norths, Rd 12: Manly, Rd 13: West Harbour.
Another week and Gordon are still undefeated and still sitting on top of the ladder.
Up against an injury-ravaged Southern Districts Gordon dominated.
While Gordon has secured their spot in the finals the loss has put Southern Districts on shaky ground just outside the six but still a chance of making the cut if they can lift their win rate.
The Highlander’s tries was scored by Mahe Vailanu, Robbie Abel, Brandon Fa’avae-Eli, Mahe Vailanu, Joey Walton, Oliver Smeallie and Jordan Goddard.
Southern Districts tries was scored by Laurence Tominiko, Andrew Tuzla and Daniel Bell.
Hunter Wildfires 28 Two Blues 15
Hunter Wildfires are in 11th place with one win six losses and one draw and eight points.
The Western Sydney Two Blues are in 12th place with one win and seven losses and six points
THE RUN HOME
HUNTER WILDFIRES: Rd 10: Southern Districts, Rd 11: Warringah, Rd 12: West Harbour, Rd 13: Penrith.
WESTERN SYDNEY: Rd 10: Warringah, Rd 11: West Harbour, Rd 12: Eastern Suburbs, Rd 13: Sydney University.
It was the Wildfires first win of the season.
And while they can’t crack the top six according to coach Scott Coleman they have aspirations of more success this season.
The Two Blues are also out of the race for the finals.
Hunters tries were scored by Hamish McKie, Chad Northcott, Taulogo Lalaga and Philip Bradford
Michael Zakhia and Tepai Moeroa scored for the Two Blues
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Eastern Suburbs 20 to Sydney University 14
Eastern Suburbs are in sixth place with six wins and three losses on 32 points.
Sydney University are in fourth place with six wins and two losses.
THE RUN HOME:
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY: Rd 10: Randwick, Rd 11: Gordon, Rd 12: Norths, Rd 13: Two Blues.
EASTERN SUBURBS: Rd 10: Manly, Rd 11: Penrith, Rd 12: Two Blues, Rd 13: Randwick.
Eastern Suburbs benefited from the injection of five wallabies into their line to spring an upset in the defending champions.
It was a crucial win for the Beasties.
“We are we are just creeping in to the top six now,’’ said coach Pauli Taumoepeau. “This was an important one for us.’’
Alex Newsome, Latakia Foketi and Richard Woolfe scored Easts tries in the upset win while William McDonnel and Banjo Travers scored for the Students
Norths 46 Randwick 17
Norths are in second place with seven wins and one loss on 34 points.
Randwick are in fifth place with six wins and three losses on 30 points.
THE RUN HOME
NORTHS: Rd 9: Randwick, Rd 10: Gordon, Rd 11: Southern Districts, Rd 12: Sydney University, Rd 13: Warringah.
RANDWICK: Rd 10: Sydney University, Rd 11: Manly, Rd 12: Bye, Rd 13: Eastern Suburbs.
While Norths are sitting pretty near the top of the ladder Randwick need to put wins on the board in their upcoming matches to make the finals.
“We will go back to the drawing board and have a look at what we are doing,’’ said Randwick coach Ben McCormack after the loss to Norths.
“We were thoroughly beaten.’’
Northern Suburbs tries was scored by Nathan Russell, Cameron Clarke, Nicholas Duffy, Bradley Hemopo, Hugh Sinclair and Harry Burey.
Brooklyn Hardaker, and Marice Longbottom scored Randwick’s only two tries of the match while Ben Donaldson kicked a penalty goal and two conversions.
West Harbour 38 Penrith 29
West Harbour are in 10th place with two wins and seven losses for 10 points.
Penrith are last in 13th place with no wins from there eight outings.
THE RUN HOME
WEST HARBOUR: Rd 10: Bye, Rd 11: Two Blues, Rd 12: Hunter Wildfires, Rd 13: Penrith.
PENRITH: Rd 10: Eastwood, Rd 11: Eastern Suburbs, Rd 12: Gordon, Rd 13: Hunter Wildfires.
Both teams are placed in the bottom four of the competition. The Two Blues are out of the race while the Pirates look to have left their run too late.
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WARRINGAH
Warringah sit in ninth place with three wins and five games and on 10 points.
THE RUN HOME
WARRINGAH: Rd 9: Bye, Rd 10: Two Blues, Rd 11: Hunter Wildfires, Rd 12: Eastwood, Rd 13: Norths.
They had the bye this week and are in a precarious position, needing to string together wins to breathe life into their bid to make the finals.