After eighteen tough rounds, we now have only six teams in each competition. The Qualifying Finals are here, and these are the teams that will be competing.
First up, a reminder of how it all works. Each team is seeded by their ladder position, with 1st place playing 6th, 2nd facing 5th, and 3rd against 4th.
The two lowest-placed losers will be knocked out, leaving four teams remaining. For teams in 5th and 6th place, these games are effectively sudden death – if one or both of those teams win however, the 3rd v 4th game also becomes a knock-out match. Only first-placed teams are safe if they lose.
The Grade Finals will be played in three locations: on Saturday, at University Oval No. 2 and Pittwater Rugby Park, and on Sunday at North Sydney Oval. For the Colts Finals, Saturday games are at Coogee Oval, Sunday at Chatswood Oval.
Here are the full fixtures:
FIRST GRADE – INTRUST SUPER SHUTE SHIELD
With two televised games this weekend, fans that can’t make it out to the grounds can still see some top-quality rugby from the couch. After Eastwood and Manly put on a show this weekend with a hard-fought draw, you can expect most of these games to be just as tight.
Saturday August 18th
Warringah (3) v Manly (4) – 3pm AEST, Pittwater Rugby Park LIVE ON 7TWO
Sydney University (1) v Eastern Suburbs (6) – 3pm AEST, Sydney University Oval No. 2
Sunday August 19th
Northern Suburbs (2) v Eastwood (5) – 3pm AEST, North Sydney Oval LIVE ON 7TWO
SECOND GRADE – COLIN CAIRD SHIELD
Every Round 18 game was a high-scoring affair in Second Grade, setting every team up nicely for a Finals run. They all also have similar records, making this Grade one of the most open.
Saturday August 18th
Warringah (3) v Eastwood (4) – 1.15pm AEST, Pittwater Rugby Park
Sydney University (2) v Northern Suburbs (5) – 1.15pm AEST, Sydney University Oval No. 2
Sunday August 19th
Eastern Suburbs (1) v Manly (6) – 1.15pm AEST, North Sydney Oval
THIRD GRADE – HENDERSON SHIELD
Northern Suburbs made it into the Finals by the skin of their teeth, as Eastwood stayed in 7th after falling short against Manly. Their reward is playing a Warringah side that has lost a single game all season, at Rat Park.
Saturday August 18th
Warringah (1) v Northern Suburbs (6) – 9.30am AEST, Pittwater Rugby Park
Manly (3) v Sydney University (4) – 11.40am AEST, Sydney University Oval No. 2
Sunday August 19th
Eastern Suburbs (2) v Randwick (5) – 11.40am AEST, North Sydney Oval
FOURTH GRADE – HENDERSON CUP
Randwick missed out while Parramatta snuck in by end of Round 18, in one of the few divisions where the top six changed in the last Round. They play a dominant Warringah team – the same Rats squad that were undefeated until Round 12. Who did they lose to? Parramatta. What a game that will be.
Saturday August 18th
Warringah (1) v Parramatta (6) – 11.30am AEST, Pittwater Rugby Park
Eastern Suburbs (3) v Eastwood (4) – 10am AEST, Sydney University Oval No. 2
Sunday August 19th
Sydney University (2) v Northern Suburbs (5) – 10.15am AEST, North Sydney Oval
COLTS FIRSTS – W. MCMAHON SHIELD
Randwick are undefeated and are heavy favourites to go all the way here. Sydney University jumped up from 7th with a timely win over Gordon, and will need to step it up again to take on Souths.
Saturday August 18th
Randwick (1) v Manly (6) – 3.30pm AEST, Coogee Oval
Southern Districts (2) v Sydney University (5) – 1.40pm AEST, Coogee Oval
Sunday August 19th
Gordon (3) v Eastern Suburbs (4) – 3pm AEST, Chatswood Oval
COLTS SECONDS – SHELL TROPHY
There’s another undefeated Randwick team in this division, so again they will be the ones to beat. Gordon took second spot with a win over Sydney University, now playing Eastwood instead of a rested Eastern Suburbs outfit.
Saturday August 18th
Randwick (1) v Northern Suburbs (6) – Time TBA, Coogee Oval
Sunday August 19th
Sydney University (3) v Eastern Suburbs (4) – 11.30am AEST, Chatswood Oval
Gordon (2) v Eastwood (5) – 1.10pm AEST, Chatswood Oval
COLTS THIRDS – BILL SIMPSON SHIELD
Four of these teams put up big scores this weekend – and they are all playing each other. Even though Eastwood led the pack in the regular season, any team could come out on top here.
Saturday August 18th
Sydney University (2) v Randwick (5) – 9am AEST, Coogee Oval
Eastwood (1) v Warringah (6) – 10.30am AEST, Coogee Oval
Sunday August 19th
Eastern Suburbs (3) v Gordon (4) – 10am AEST, Chatswood Oval