Round 14
Bankstown City Bulls 32 d. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 12

2009 NSW Cup Index [Table] [Draw]

Location: Australia > New South Wales > State/Metropolitan Level Competition: NSW Cup

Round 14 NSW Cup Previews
Fri June 26, 2009
Source: www.nswrl.com.au

Preview of Round 14 NSW Cup Matches - Central Coast v Auckland, Shellharbour v Western Suburbs, Windsor v Balmain Ryde Eastwood, Bankstown City v Cronulla (note venue change) and Wentworthville v North Sydney.

Newtown have the bye for Round 14.


CENTRAL COAST v AUCKLAND
Morrie Breen Oval, Saturday, June 27 @ 1.30pm
A 22-nil loss last week to Newtown - now well and truly the 2009 NSW Cup giant killers - saw the Storm drop to fourth place one week after a terrific win over early competition leaders Western Suburbs. They will need to address their inconsistency this week when they come up against the Auckland Vulcans, again without key playmaker James Maloney and winger Anthony Quinn - both of whom are reserves on Craig Bellamy's extended Melbourne side to play Canberra. The Storm will be aided by some NRL muscle in Wairangi Koopu who will suit up in the back row alongside Aiden Guerra and outstanding lock Hep Cahill. The Vulcans had the bye last week and will be hoping to build on a big 46-6 Round 12 win over Windsor.

SHELLHARBOUR v WESTERN SUBURBS
Ron Costello Oval, Saturday, June 27 @ 3.30pm
Magpies coach Leo Epifania will be hopeful his side's 26-4 Round 13 win over Balmain Ryde has lifted them out of their mid-season slump which entailed a draw, bye and three straight losses. Now sitting mid-ladder, points are at a premium for the Magpies and complacency would appear to be their main obstacle this week. The Dragons have done it tough in 2009, losing their last six matches, the latest a 30-18 loss to Windsor at home. In fact, Shellharbour will be gunning for their first home win tomorrow since their sensational Round 1 upset of 2008 Grand Finalists Newtown. Coach Mark Horo is faced with the added strain of losing one of his best performers last week Chase Stanley - who has been named on an extended bench for St George Illawarra.

WINDSOR v BALMAIN RYDE-EASTWOOD
Windsor Sports Complex, Saturday, June 27 @ 5.00pm
Schoolboy prodigy Greg Wadell looks set to make his first appearance for the 'Wolf Pack' in this do-or-die fixture for the Windsor based club. Windsor sits just one win out of finals contention in 9th place behind the Auckland Vulcans who this week face competition heavyweights the Central Coast Storm. Balmain Ryde will be out to erase the memories of their 26-4 loss to Western Suburbs last weekend. According to reports from Campbelltown Stadium last weekend it was Balmain Ryde front rower David Gower who led the way against Western Suburbs, consistently bending the defence with his strong carries. Coach Paul Fletcher will be hoping Gower's play can inspire his fellow front-rower Eloni Vunakece to turn up the intensity, fulfil his great potential and spark his side to a much-needed away win.

BANKSTOWN CITY v CRONULLA
Terry Lamb Complex, Saturday, June 27 @ 7.30pm
Terry Lamb Complex is home to what could be the clash of the year between the explosive Bankstown City Bulls and the rampaging Cronulla Sharks. The Bulls produced some steely defence in their 22-4 win over North Sydney last week while the Sharks overcame atrocious conditions at Toyota Stadium to secure a gutsy victory over Wentworthville. Fans will be treated to some NRL player matchups in Matt Utai v Bronx Goodwin, Ben Barba v Eddie Paea and Heka Nanai v David Simmons. The real ace up the sleeve for the Bulls though could be fullback Brent Crisp, who is in red hot try-scoring form. Crisp leads the NSW Cup's try-scoring list with 14, and along with 55 successful goals is on a whopping 166 points for the season - well ahead of next best Shannon Gallant's 92. While the Sharks will be without their regular halfback Scott Porter (who continues to impress at NRL level), Alex Melville's men are in with a huge chance to take the outright lead of the 2009 NSW Cup.

WENTWORTHVILLE v NORTH SYDNEY
Ringrose Park, Sunday, June 28 @ 3.00pm
Both sides are coming off defeats at the hands of competition frontrunners with Wentworthville going down to Cronulla 16-6 and the Bears suffering a 22-4 loss at the hands of the Bankstown City Bulls. Wentworthville will be without second-rower Taulima Tautai after he was stood down by the Parramatta club for disciplinary reasons whilst North Sydney welcome back centre Beau Champion from the NRL. Matchups between some of the competitions in-form players will be a highlight of this one. The matchup between young second-rowers Justin Horo and David Tyrrell, experienced centres Beau Champion and Ben Smith, and front rowers Garrett Crossman and Josh Cordoba are just a few to watch.

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