Shute Shield Round Two: Six key match-ups to watch
It looks as though we’re in for another wet weekend of Shute Shield rugby when round two kicks off on Saturday.
First round winners Warringah and Norths meet at Rat Park, while first round losers Eastwood and Easts clash at TG Milner.
Elsewhere, Souths host Gordon, Manly face West Harbour, Western Sydney take on Hunter and Uni are at home to Randwick.
It’s difficult to pick in winner in any of the six games this weekend and we thought we’d take a look at a few of the key head to head match ups across the matches in round two.
Enoka Muliufi (Eastwood No.12) v Jordan Jackson Hope (Eastern Suburbs No.12)
Jordan Jackson-Hope didn’t have the happiest of homecomings at Woollahra last week. The Beasties were belted by Norths and Jackson-Hope was forced to do plenty of work in defence at the back.
He’s shifted forward and will play inside centre alongside 18-year old flyhalf Jack Bowen this weekend. Jackson-Hope’s experience should calm Bowen, but they’ll need to keep an eye out for big Enoka Muliufi in the Eastwood midfield who will introduce himself fairly quickly on Saturday.
Both sides will look to spark their attack from No.12 on Saturday but they’ll do it in very different ways. Jackson-Hope and Muliufi’s battle is worth keeping an eye on.
Sateki Latu (Warringah No.1) v Apo Ranavai (Northern Suburbs No.3)