Game Preview - 2018 Round 10

By Samuel Lindsayvs RANDWICK (A) Southern Districts return to action after resting up over the long weekend. A much needed week edges a large portion of the squad closer to return from injury. Whilst the candy striped may have not been on display, plenty happened over the week that has been. Firstly, Brandon Paenga-Amosa made a thoroughly deserved Wallabies debut and grabbed the limelight with his rendition of the national anthem; the performance has gotten people talking about Australian Rugby Union for all the right reasons. Here’s hoping we’ll see him belting it out for years to come. Southern Districts will be hoping to emulate the Wallabies when we take on our myrtle green clad rivals this weekend. Second congratulations go to Defensive Coach Dale Roberson, a member of the Australian Women’s 7s backroom staff; after the Aussie women secured the 2018 World Series crown in Paris on Sunday. Thirdly and finally, Matt Gibbon made the trip to nib Stadium in Perth with the Melbourne Rebels who took on the Western Force as part of the World Series Rugby competition entering the fray around the 50 minute mark ‘Gibbo’ helped secure a 12 -28 victory. Back at Forshaw head coach Matt Barr has named an unchanged line-up from the one that downed Northern Suburbs 23 – 10 a fortnight ago. Shambeckler Vui has linked up with the NSW Waratahs who jetted off to Japan to take on Top League side NEC Green Rockets this Sunday as part of the Chichibunomiya Minato Rugby Festival in Tokyo seeing Willie Ma’umalanga retain his starting place. Returning to second grade action this week and undoubtedly waiting in the wings will be Conor Young, Eli Pilz and Will Latu along with Duncan Chubb and Albert Hemopo the Southern Districts squad is beginning to retain some much needed depth required to make a finals push. Taking a look at the opposition, the Galloping Greens have two wins from their last five fixtures, the first a default victory over Penrith and the other coming the week before the bye against Parramatta. Randwick sit just 3 points behind Souths on the ladder in ninth place, with a win this weekend and some favourable results Southern Districts could potentially leapfrog Easts into seventh, keeping touching distance with the rest of the top six. A huge defensive effort handed Norths their first defeat of the season and nothing short of a similar effort will be required this Saturday. The Italian Stallion, Marcus Carbone is set to make his 100th appearance for Southern Districts this Saturday. Currently equal first grade top scorer with Luke Smart with seven tries apiece the Rebels captain will be looking to round off the spectacle with a victory at Coogee Oval. First grade will be kicking-off at 3pm and the first game of the day, fourth grade will get underway at 10:45am. SDRC TEAM NEWSStarting Line-up1. Matt Gibbon2. Liam Dwyer3. Willie Ma'umalanga4. Angus Ryan5. Jake Douglas6. Alex Perez7. Conor Mitchell8. Marcus Carbone (c)9. Waldo Wessels10. Ben Chalmers11. Luke Smart12. Will Thomas13. Denny Godinet14. Rowland-Keni Kotabalavau15. Christian Kagiassis STATSForm – Last 5 matchesSouthern Districts L W W L WRandwick L L W L WSouthern Districts vs Randwick at Coogee Oval – Past 5 years2017 Round 18 Randwick 30 – 34 Southern Districts2016 Round 11 Randwick 20 – 23 Southern Districts2015 Round 16 Randwick 15 – 27 Southern Districts2014 Round 7 Randwick 22 – 30 Southern Districts 2013 Round 8 Randwick 33 – 25 Southern Districts Southern Districts 5 year record vs Randwick P W L F AForshaw Rugby Park 4 2 2 129 93Coogee Oval 5 4 1 120 149Finals 2 2 0 86 51Total 11 8 3 335 293