Tooheys New John I Dent Cup Preview: Round 11

Saturday, 19 July, 2008
Kick-off times:
First Grade: 3.05pm
Reserve Grade: 1.40pm
Colts: 12.15pm
Third Grade 12.15pm
Fourth Grade: 10.55am

Match of the Round:
Tuggeranong (6) v Gungahlin (3) v at Viking Park, Wanniassa

Tuggeranong and Gungahlin will contest the inaugural Roman Warcaba Memorial Trophy in their Tooheys New John I Dent Cup Match of the Round at Viking Park on Saturday. The match will be held in memory of former Vikings player and coach Roman Warcaba who lost his battle with leukaemia last year.

The Vikings, six points shy of the top four, will be determined to maintain contact with the league-leaders with a win over the resurgent Eagles. The home side will welcome back Australia A representative John Ulugia from his performances during the Pacific Nations Cup. Lock Hitashi Ipponsugi and winger Jon Gibson have also been included in the run-on side.

Gungahlin head south chasing their fifth consecutive win after claiming the scalp of top-of-the-table Royals a fortnight ago. The Eagles were out-muscled by the Vikings, 39-12, in their first round encounter, however, a drastic form reversal has seen the Eagles surge into the top three in recent weeks.

Lock Luke McGrath and flanker Brendan Pye return to bolster the Eagles forward pack while Tim Papp, who scored two tries in his first grade debut against Royals, retains his place on the wing.

Tuggeranong: 1. John Ulugia, 2. Tetera Faulkner, 3. Luke Troy, 4. Hitashi Ipponsugi, 5. Chris Slack, 6. Eneliko Lealiifano, 7. Colin Montgomery, 8. Ipolito Fenukitau, 9. Beau Mokotupu, 10. Phil Cook, 11.Jon Gibson, 12. Donovan Felice, 13. Andrew Hunter, 14. Eddie McLaughlin, 15. Cameron Wyper
Gungahlin: 1. Andrew Webber, 2. Matt Hogan, 3. Derek Leefe, 4. Luke McGrath, 5. Jack Cuznor, 6. Brendan O’Neill, 7. Brendan Pye, 8. Ben McGee, 9. Anthony Dawes, 10. Dave King, 11. Tim Papp, 12. Tevita Halaifonua, 13. Matt Hawke, 14. Andrew Barrell, 15. Tyrone Anderson
Referee: Sarah Corrigan

Royals (2) v Easts (5) at Phillip Oval, Phillip

Both Royals and Easts head to Phillip Oval after suffering last-round losses to Gungahlin and Queanbeyan respectively.

The home side took the points over the tri-colours, 45-31, in their first-round encounter and will run out a reshuffled back-row with Laurie Miller, Willie Taufoou and Thenus Jacobs packing down at the rear of the scrum. Winger Ashley Vest and lock Damien Abby will make their first run-on starts in the top grade for the season.

Having held their position within the top four for the majority of the season, Easts now sit three points adrift of third-placed Gungahlin and fourth-placed Wests, both on 30 points. A win for the Griffith club could potentially enable them to take fourth place.

Easts’ Jim Crompton returns to the top grade allowing Henry Vanderglas to push to openside flanker to cover for his absent brother Jack. Ben Hewitt returns at outside centre allowing Henry Stower to push to fullback.

Royals: 1. Eugene Mulipola, 2. Robbie Abel, 3. Kesomi Lolotonga, 4. Damien Abby, 5. Soalki Tai, 6. Willie Taufoou, 7. Laurie Miller, 8. Thenus Jacobs, 9. Brent Hamlin, 10. Craig McMahon, 11. Jason Swain, 12. AJ Abel, 13. Tim Cornforth, 14. Ashley Vest, 15. Ben Johnson
Easts: 1. John Tutuila, 2. Reza Almasi, 3. Paul Bithel, 4. Sam Shirley, 5. Sione Asohivi, 6. Jim Crompton, 7. Henry Vanderglas, 8. Tal Tahlo, 9. Phil Wihapi, 10. Jeremy Osborne, 11. Aufaga Lafaele, 12. Darryl Wihapi, 13. Ben Hewitt, 14. John Duggan, 15. Henry Stower
Referee: Brett Bowden

Queanbeyan (1) v Uni-Norths (7) at Campese Field, Queanbeyan

The Queanbeyan Whites re-instated themselves at the top of the Tooheys New John I Dent Cup table on the back of their 28-15 win over Easts a fortnight ago.

This weekend they maintain their home ground advantage over a Uni-Norths side brimming with confidence after toppling Wests, 48-38, in their last round match.

The students had been building to such a result with win over Easts and a strong performance against Gungahlin and their cause will be assisted this week by the return of flanker Wade Grintell and probing Brumbies Academy scrumhalf Matt Page from injury. Joe Matthews also replaces Peter Birch at fullback.

The Whites have made a number of additions to their forward pack with flanker Dan Penca returning from a broken hand while No.8 Seilala Lam runs on for his first match back from the Australian Under 20 campaign in Wales. Prop Jack Kennedy will miss Saturday’s match with his place in the front row taken by veteran Glen Stumbles.

Queanbeyan: 1. Chris Barbaro, 2. Anthony Hegarty, 3. Glen Stumbles, 4. Andrew Garton, 5. Darren Bully, 6. James Stonham, 7. Dan Penca, 8. Seilala Lam, 9. Rhyan Caine, 10. Sam Windsor, 11. Robert Beath, 12. Richard Windsor, 13. Henry Seavula, 14. Jamie Marmont, 15. Josh Hastings
Uni-Norths: 1. Daymian Clydesdale, 2. Patricio Noriega, 3. Kian Bone, 4. Joe Ritchie, 5. Brett McIntyre, 6. Wade Grintell, 7. Reuben Heagney, 8. Tim Sloan-Gardener, 9. Matt Page, 10. De’Villiers Hugo, 11. George Morice, 12. Josh Sebbens, 13. Rob McReery, 14. Frank Igliewski, 15. Joe Matthews
Referee: Robert Paloni

Wests (4) – BYE