Round four of the Intrust Super Shute Shield is set to light up the Mudgee region tomorrow with a large crowd expected at Glen Willow Sports Field on what promises to be a beautiful day for rugby. Fine and sunny with a top of 19 degrees is what Mudgee will offer Sydney University and Eastwood!
The two sides are coming off contrasting results. The Students drubbed Warringah 50-0 while Eastwood were left disappointed against Norths, but tomorrow’s occasion will have both teams excited and hungry to get the win.
For Sydney University enforcer Nick Champion De Crespigny, tomorrow is more than just a game.
“It’s really exciting to be able to take the game out to the country, especially an area like Mudgee which has a strong connection to our players and the club. It’s going to be a fantastic experience for us to promote and showcase the game in an area outside of Sydney” said Champion De Crespigny.
The University sides have been helping out the under 14 NSW Country Cockatoos side recently and will tomorrow run clinics from midday for kids in the region.
“People don’t realise it but a lot of country folk follow the Intrust Super Shute Shield, and they are great supporters of it. If you look at our team half of the boys are from the bush. It’s about maintaining that connection and embodying community rugby”, said Champion De Crespigny.
Whilst it will be a jam-packed day, the Economics Student, who is eligible to play for the USA, is adamant Uni are up to the task. “We are there to do a job and Eastwood are always tough, it’s always a good physical game against them,” said Champion De Crespigny.
Eastwood will be chasing the form they showed in the opening 2 rounds.
The Woods have a big injury toll with Jacob Bamford, Fabian Goodall, Enoki Muilifi and Pama Fou all out for an extended amount of time. They will look to the experienced hands of Mick Snowden and Blake Sutton to tame a venomous opposition backline.
In the forwards, Skipper Robert Lagudi and his pack took one positive out of last weekend and that was scrum dominance. It will be a massive contest at scrum time tomorrow as both packs have been solid to start the year. Ed Craig is a young hooker who’s been under the tutelage of Hugh Roach for the past few years and he will be keen to make his mark on the game.
With the inform Guy Porter out; James Armstrong replaces him at outside centre. Harry Potter has been magical so far scoring 4 tries, running for the most metres (314) in the competition and beating 21 defenders. With James Kane and the exciting Nathaniel Tamwoy joining Potter at the back, it’ll be a big task for the Woods to contain them.
Gates open at 10:30 AM with clinics starting from 12 PM. The Mudgee Wombats will take on the Parkes Boars in the curtain raiser before the main event at 3 PM. Kids enter for free.
Watch Round 4 of the Intrust Super Shute Shield on Saturday LIVE and FREE on 7TWO at 3 PM.
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