Eastwood Preview Round 3
Grade
Round 2 saw Eastwood come away with five wins from six games with Colts Thirds having a bye. This week Grade travel to Penrith while Colts again play host at Millner except for Colts Thirds who again have a bye.
Based on results from the first two rounds we could be in for a try scoring feast in all grades.
The fight to win the Club Championship will be a tough one with Manly moving ahead of Eastwood after this weekend results. It is early days but with three strong clubs it will be a battle hinging on all seven teams to continue to win.
According to reports on Penrith’s first two games the teams lack discipline and fitness. Penrith have not won a game in any grade this year continuing on with their lack of winning from 2013. No Eastwood coach will be wanting to be the first team to be beaten by Penrith in 2014.
4th Grade
Once again Fourths got us off to a flying start with a 48 – 0 win over a shell shocked Gordon. With two solid wins under their belt Eastwood 4th Grade come up against a Penrith side that has been soundly beaten in their two starts having conceded 123 points while only scoring 10 themselves. It is hard to see them putting up much of a resistance to the rampaging Eastwood outfit.
3rd Grade
Eastwood 3rd Grade had a rare loss on Saturday going down to a Gordon team who out enthused them applying pressure in both defence and attack for the full 70 minutes. In the end Gordon ended up 19 – 10 winners and could be a team to watch this season.
Eastwood will be looking to hit back this week when they take on Penrith who have been soundly beaten the last two weeks. Eastwood should return to winners circle in a high scoring game.
2nd Grade
Gordon would consider themselves unlucky to get beaten by one point with Eastwood crossing for a converted try in the dying minutes of the game. The game was an arm wrestle though out and credit needs to go to the Eastwood team who stuck to their game plan and didn’t panic. The win sees them sharing top place with Sydney University.
This week they should find the going a little easier against Penrith who are sitting at the bottom of the table having already conceded 101 points while only scoring 25.
1st Grade
On the morning of the game at Chatswood Oval the Sydney Morning Herald ran a story saying Eastwood was weary of Gordon. This worry proved to be unfounded as the Highlanders offered no resistance to a relentless Eastwood who had the game well and truly won after only 20 minutes. The good news was Eastwood didn’t shut up shop at this point and was still going strong scoring their 10th try on the full time siren. The game highlights the difference between the top sides and those struggling at the bottom of the table.
The downside of the game was the number of injuries the worst being a serious ankle injury to Kyle Shewan just as he was establishing himself in First Grade. With the growing injury toll so early in the season it will be a testing time of the club’s depth. Injuries sees Tom Alexander get his first run-on start this year. He is joined in the pack by Michael Kovacic. Meanwhile in the backs Michael McDougall returns to the centres after missing last week.
Penrith have lost both their opening games this season. It was reported they led University at half time in the opening round but fell away in the second half with ill discipline and lack of fitness. They did manage to score four tries and earn themselves their first point for the year. The game against West Harbour resulted in a loss 19 – 57 and falling one try short of getting another bonus point. Following their disappointing game last week Penrith have made five changes to their line up. Will these changes work? We will have to wait to Saturday afternoon to find out.
Colts
3rd Grade Colts
Second bye in a row.
2nd Grade Colts
Eastwood had their first win of the season with a 57 – 15 score line that also earned them a bonus point. Now its time to string some wins together and a win over Penrith will get the run started.
Penrith have lost both their games this season and should not be a threat to Eastwood.
1st Grade Colts
Colts Firsts made it two from two with a 44 – 17 win over Gordon. This places them in equal first with Uni and West Harbour after a second 4 try bonus point win. This has been an impressive start to the season and it should continue along the same line this weekend.
Penrith lost 10 – 29 to equal competition leaders West Harbour and went down to Sydney University in Round One 0 – 71. A big improvement over week one and will be looking to make an additional improvement against Eastwood. Eastwood will need to be wary of the Emus if they are to take a points this weekend.