Eastwood Preview Round 17
By Paul Treanor
Last Saturday was another successful day for Eastwood with all five teams playing coming away winners. Once again the scoreboard looked like summer had come early with numbers that resembled cricket scores. Our teams will be looking for more resistance from opposition teams in the last two rounds as they will not want to go into the finals underdone.
This week we face Eastern Suburbs and if the last time the teams met is any guide we should get a more solid hit out when we travel to Woollahra Oval. Meanwhile Colts play the last round of the competition proper at home looking to take winning form into the finals. Grade 4th Grade – 3rd place
With two rounds to go the worst Fourth Grade can achieve is 3rd place and have the possibility of improving this position if results go their way over the next two weeks. All 4th Grade can do is keep winning, let the other results look after themselves and set about preparing for the finals.
Their opposition this week is sitting in 5th place only three behind 4th placed Norths so they will be looking to beat Eastwood to keep their chances of making the top four alive. Easts are on a roll winning their last three games and will give Eastwood a tough game to start the day. Last time these two teams met Eastwood came away with a 36 – 14 win and on current form should come away winners again this Saturday. 3rd Grade – 2nd place
Third Grade continued their high scoring spree with another outstanding win against Gordon. This week they take on 5th placed Easts who also had a big win last Saturday over Parramatta. Their form has not been that great with only two wins out of their last five games. Eastwood have scored over 200 more points than Easts so the pressure will be on Easts to stop the Scoring Machine. Last time they played, Eastwood had a narrow 15 – 0 win. However this time it is difficult to see Easts keeping up with the pace and commitment of the Eastwood team. 2nd Grade – 4th place
Eastwood is still in a close race for top four positions and it will probably come down to results in the last round that will determine where Eastwood ends up on the ladder. Eastwood will be looking to continue with their winning run having only one loss in their last 12 games and maintain pressure on the three teams above them.
Easts are running 6th and are coming off a strong win over Parramatta. They have won their last two games but have been struggling to win against stronger opposition. When they met at Millner back in May Eastwood took the points 36 – 20 and they should again be too strong this time around.
1st Grade -1st place
First Grade continued to show their strength with a dominant win over Gordon. This week they will be looking for a tougher hit out against the team that inflicted a three point loss on them at Millner in a game our kickers would rather forget. Easts have the team to test Eastwood for the full 80 minutes which is ideal at this stage of the season. The goal of winning the minor premiership and revenge for last time they met should see Eastwood fired up to take the points from 6th placed Easts who had a surprise loss to Parramatta last Saturday.
Colts Thirds – 4th Place
The byes in Colts Thirds has seen Eastwood drop to 4th on the ladder. This week it is University’s turn to sit out and watch the rest of the teams go round. Eastwood take on third placed Easts and a win will see Eastwood leap frog them on the ladder. A no point loss by Norths would see a Eastwood win take them to second. An interesting final round for Colts Thirds.
Easts beat Eastwood 24 – 14 last time they met and so it will take a top effort from Eastwood to take the points. A very close game that should go down to the wire.
Seconds – 2nd Place
With a win over Easts this Saturday Eastwood will become minor premiers of Colts Seconds. They are only three points behind current competition leaders University who have the bye and cannot earn any points this weekend. The game is an important one for both teams with Easts also wanting to put themselves into the position of taking 4th place should Norths beat Manly.
Eastwood won 31 – 19 when they played back in May and with the minor premiership on offer they should again be too strong for Easts.
Firsts – 5h Place
What a difference two wins make. Firsts have gone from 8th to 5th over the last three rounds and will be wanting to put three wins together for the first time this year when they take on second last placed Easts. Easts were resoundingly beaten by Eastwood last time they played 46 – 17. With good performances against Parramatta and Gordon under their belt they are on a roll at the right end of the season setting themselves up for a positive finals campaign.
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