Eastwood Preview Round 12
By Paul Treanor Grade
As we start to play some clubs for a second time all Eastwood teams are well placed to figure prominently come finals time. Six teams are in the top three while the other is running fifth. This week, our rampaging Grade teams again play away from home. This time they travel to Coogee Oval to take on the Randwick club, while, Colts have the luxury to play a second week in a row at home. Both venues promise some exciting rugby.
4th Grade – 3rd place
The top three sides in Fourth Grade have each only lost one game and their places on the ladder are determined by bonus points. This week second placed Randwick take on third placed Eastwood. A win will see Eastwood leap frog Randwick on the ladder. Last Saturday they accounted for Norths 8 points to 5, while Randwick accounted for Manly 20 to 0. Randwick’s only loss this season was in Round 3 where they went down to Eastwood 15 to 7. A battle royal should be on display as Randwick try and avenge their loss in Round 3 while, Eastwood look to inflict the first loss on them this season at Coogee.
3rd Grade – 2nd place
Eastwood Thirds maintained their second place on the ladder with a fast finishing 31 to 11 win over Norths last Saturday. This week they are up against the team holding down third place on the ladder. Randwick had a hard fought 8 to 6 win over Manly last week and will be looking to reverse the tables on Eastwood who beat them 12 to 6 in Round 3. Randwick have lost two of their last three games and will be looking to get back onto the winners’ list. Eastwood, who haven’t lost since round two, will have a different idea. It all adds up to an great clash between the two of the top sides in the competition.
2nd Grade – 2nd place
Eastwood have moved up one place on the ladder after a strong display against Norths when they ran out winners 26 to 0. It was a display that would have put the other teams in the competition on notice. This week it is the competition leaders turn to face up to a team who are playing together as a unit and growing in confidence each week. Randwick in only one of two teams who have defeated Eastwood this season. Manly is the other and Eastwood play them next week. Randwick, whose only loss this season has been to Sydney University accounted for Manly 36 to 12 last week. With First playing Second we can expect to see one of the games of the season this Saturday afternoon at Coogee Oval.
1st Grade -1st place
As expected the Norths team turned up to play last Saturday and with the wet weather slowing down proceedings it turned into an arm wrestle. Eastwood continued pressure applied across the park which proved to be the difference and eventually they ran out winners 21 to 8 maintaining top place on the ladder. University closed the gap by one point following their bonus point win over West Harbour.
This week we take on Randwick whose form has not been up to their normal standard this season. With only five wins to their name they have been patchy with losses against the stronger teams in the competition. Last week they were outplayed by Manly 23 to 5 and will be looking for a better performance this week. Eastwood beat them 34 to 3 when they met at Millner in Round 3 and will be looking to take the points again, this time on Randwick’s home soil. Colts
For those unable to make the trip to Coogee the Colts will be putting on three top quality games at Millner. Thirds had an impressive win over the then competition leaders last week when they beat Norths 36 to 13. The loss saw Norths drop back to second while Sydney University moved up to first. Eastwood still sits in equal third with Easts. Their opponents this week are in fifth place with one win less than Eastwood. Easts play Sydney University in another important game as to the make up of the top of the table. Eastwood need to take last week’s form into the game and to repeat their Round 3 victory over Randwick.
Seconds improved their position on the table one place moving up to second after last weekend’s results. Seconds had a good win over Norths 36 to 12. Earlier in the year they beat Randwick 17 to 12 and will be looking to repeat the favour this time at home. Randwick have lost their last two games and will be looking to pay Eastwood back for the Round 3 loss at Coogee. They play University next week and will not want to go up against the competition leaders with three straight losses under their belt. Eastwood have been on a winning streak since Round 2 and should extend it to nine wins in a row on Saturday.
Firsts failed to take the points against Norths last Saturday. This week’s tasks will be a difficult one against a Randwick team running third. Randwick started the season with a bang winning eight straight but have lost their last three games. They will be looking to turn this slump around. Eastwood have to find their A game and take it up to a Randwick team whose confidence would be down. This could be an interesting game with both teams desperate for a win.
The importance of these three games should make for a great day’s rugby at the home of Eastwood.
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