Intrust Super Shute Shield Round 2 Preview
The second round of the Intrust Super Shute Shield will see Randwick taking on West Harbour at Coogee Oval as the televised Match of the Round on 7TWO. Both teams will be looking to register their first wins of the season; with West Harbour losing to Northern Suburbs at home, and Randwick suffering at the hands of the 2014 Premiers Eastwood at T.G Millner Oval.
Randwick First Grade coach Shannon Fraser is expecting a physical encounter from the Pirates, but says the team will be focusing on improving from their performance against Eastwood.
“West Harbour is a proud club, and with a loss in the first round they will be hungry for a win,” Fraser said.
“They’re a big side and we are expecting a very physical encounter – we can’t shirk away from that – we need to match them up front and make the most of the opportunities that we get.
“There were some positive signs from the team last week, in a number of periods we were more than competitive – there was some good continuity and our defence showed a lot of character. We just need to take small steps and work on the momentum throughout the season.”
Randwick are without a number of players this week, after injuries incurred in Round 1 ruled out four key players from the side – Dashville Kuata, Andrew Norton, Seamus Frost [hamstring out for season], and Ethan Ford [broken arm out for several months]. NSW Waratahs player David Horwitz will move into the role of flyhalf, after playing inside-centre in Round 1.
West Harbour coach Joe Barakat said that his side will be aiming to take the lead early and then maintain good focus for the entirety of the match.
“Our main focus is the mentality we take into the game, we got a little bit lazy in preparation last week after a good trial against Eastwood,” Barakat said.
“We’re both coming off losses in Round 1, and not close ones – we both got comprehensively beaten so we will both be desperate to win this second game.
“We just need to make sure we stick to the game we have been practicing in training, with a good level of desire behind it.
“We want to get in front early and keep that lead – the more you stay in front, the more desperate your opponent gets and the less they will focus on their own game and what they need to do to win. We want to keep them anxious and desperate for the whole game.”
Other matches of the second round will see Sydney University travel to Bowral to take on Eastern Suburbs. The Students have shot to the top of the table with a big win over Penrith last week, while Easts lost to Gordon in the first featured match of the season. Gordon will host Eastwood at Chatswood Oval, Manly host Penrith at Wakehurst Park; and Warringah is at home to Northern Suburbs at Pittwater Rugby Park. Southern Districts are at home again this week, this time hosting the Parramatta Two Blues.
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