The Tooheys New Shute Shield is down to four teams who will do battle in this weekend’s Preliminary Finals for a place in the competition decider at Concord Oval on 20 September.

The First Preliminary Final on Saturday sees Sydney University take on Eastern Suburbs, after the Beasts earned a place in the second week of the playoffs with a convincing win over West Harbour last weekend.

Then on Sunday, Randwick will look to turn the tables on a Gordon outfit which has had the wood on them in 2008, running off the momentum of last weekend’s nail-biting victory over Warringah.

Saturday 13 September 2008 – First Preliminary Final
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY V EASTERN SUBURBS
Coogee Oval (ABC TV Game, 3:10pm)
Round 5 – Sydney University 38 d Eastern Suburbs 16 at University Oval No.1.
Round 16 – Eastern Suburbs 27 d Sydney University 18 at Woollahra Oval.

The First Preliminary Final is a replay of the 2007 Grand Final with Sydney University taking on Eastern Suburbs at Coogee Oval in the ABC TV match on Saturday afternoon.

Many predicted this would be the Grand Final as Easts streaked to a nine-match winning run late in the season, however a last round loss to Randwick means they are now forced to take on the Students one week earlier than they had planned.

The defending champions and minor premiers enjoyed the first week of the playoffs resting on what was a wet and windy weekend in Sydney, and they take an experienced line-up into this clash.

Dean Mumm returns from Wallaby duty on the side of the scrum to add strength to what has been arguably the most dominant pack of the competition.

Uni will have their work cut out for them however, with Eastern Suburbs the last side to claim the Students’ scalp back in Round 16 when they ran out nine-point victors at Woollahra Oval.

Easts have named an identical line-up to their Elimination Semifinal team announcement, however three late changes last week already have people wondering as to which XV will run out at Coogee on Saturday.

The Beasts are packed with Super 14 experience, and with the likes of Clyde Rathbone and Gavin Debartolo capable of putting points on quickly, will back themselves to cause an upset.

The battle up front in this clash will be huge and whoever gets on top early will go a long way to being the first team into the 2008 Grand Final.

Sydney University: 1. Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 2. Nathan Charles, 3. Laurie Weeks; 4. Al Campbell, 5. Lachlan McCutcheon; 6. Dean Mumm, 7. Jono Jenkins, 8. Tim Davidson [c]; 9. Nick Haydon, 10. Daniel Halangahu; 11. Nick Edwards, 12. Leo Afeaki, 13. Mitch Inman, 14. Ed Jenkins; 15. Nathan Trist.
Eastern Suburbs: 1. Heamani Levaka, 2. Saia Faingaa, 3. Aaron Tawera; 4. Adam Byrnes, 5. Tom Egan [c]; 6. Ed Brenac, 7. Tim McGann, 8. Richard Stanford; 9. Luke Irwin, 10. Matt Toomua; 11. Afusipa Taumeopeau, 12. Tom Azar, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 14. Clyde Rathbone; 15. Gavin Debartolo.
Referee: James Leckie
1:20pm Colin Caird Shield (2nd Grade) - Eastern Suburbs v Northern Suburbs
11:50am Henderson Shield (3rd Grade) - Gordon v Eastern Suburbs
10:20am Henderson Cup (4th Grade) - Randwick v Northern Suburbs

Sunday 14 September 2008 - Second Preliminary Final
GORDON V RANDWICK
Pittwater Rugby Park (3:00pm)
Round 2 – Gordon 28 d Randwick 16 at Chatswood Oval.
Round 13 – Gordon 42 d Randwick 7 at Coogee Oval.

Randwick may have the most impressive side on paper in the Tooheys New Shute Shield but that will mean little when they travel to Pittwater Rugby Park to take on Gordon in the Second Preliminary Final on Sunday.

Despite defeating Randwick on both occasions they have met this year, the Highlanders will be wary of their opponents which include six Super 14 stars, five of whom are Wallabies.

The Highlanders rarely faltered in 2008, dropping just five matches on their way to a clear second place on the table, securing a week off following the last round of competition.

One of their strengths has been the consistency of their line-up which has changed minimally over the course of the season.

Led by Ed Gower, the Gordon pack has been ruthless in defence this year, with only Sydney University conceding fewer points in 2008.

On the other hand their attack has been consistently strong, earning 14 bonus points from scoring four tries or more in a match, with wing Sisa Waqa crossing 21 times to be the competition’s leading tryscorer.

Randwick has named an extremely strong side this week, with Adam Freier expected to play at hooker after fulfilling Wallaby duties the night before in Brisbane.

Morgan Turinui will be better for the run he had in the Elimination Semifinal, while Ratu Nasiganiyavi is in dangerous form after scoring another try last week to add to his impressive 2008 tally.

With breezy conditions predicted on the peninsula, the kicking games of Dave Harvey and Tim Walsh will prove crucial in the fight for territory which will ultimately go a long way to deciding which team grabs a place in the premiership decider.

Gordon: 1. Ofa Fainga’anuku, 2. Nath Nicol, 3. Steven Taylor; 4. Nifo Nifo, 5. Kingsley Seale; 6. Ed Gower [c], 7. Craig Thomas, 8. Viliame Ratu; 9. Vinnie Byrne, 10. Dave Harvey; 11. Terry Preston, 12. Billy Rainima, 13. Sinclair Fischer-Grey, 14. Sisa Waqa; 15. Mark Preston.
Randwick: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. Adam Freier, 3. Lotu Taukeiaho; 4. Steve Brennan, 5. Mark Chisholm; 6. Chris Houston, 7. Rodney Voullaire, 8. Stephen Hoiles; 9. Josh Valentine, 10. Tim Walsh; 11. Ratu Nasiganiyavi, 12. Dane Inman, 13. Morgan Turinui, 14. Bernie Orbell; 15. Matt Nethery.
Referee: Ian Smith
1:20pm Colin Caird Shield (2nd Grade) - Eastwood v Gordon
11:50am Henderson Shield (3rd Grade) - Manly v Randwick
10:20am Henderson Cup (4th Grade) - Sydney University v Gordon

Tickets are on sale for the Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final on Saturday 20 September at Concord Oval.

Tickets are available by clicking here or contact the NSWRU Ticketing Department on 1300 733 899 to secure your seats.

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