Canberra Raiders Cup: Round 15 Preview
Round 15 of the Canberra Raiders Cup kicks off this Saturday at 3pm, with each club gearing up for finals footy just five weeks away. With ladder positions tightening, this weekend’s matchups promise plenty of intensity across the region.
Queanbeyan Blues v Woden Valley Rams, Saturday 1st August, Seiffert Oval, 3:00pm
This week's Match of the Round will take place at Seiffert Oval, where the third‑place Queanbeyan Blues host the fourth‑place Woden Valley Rams in what will be a pivotal clash for both sides.
With just two points separating the teams, a Rams victory would see them overtake the Blues on the ladder.
The Blues are coming off a hard‑fought 28‑22 win over the Warriors, with interchange forward Ron Leapi stating it was performance his side needed.
"It was a tough game last week, we know with the Warriors that they are good side, no matter where they sit on the table, so it was a tough contest, but we needed that two points," Leapi said.
Prior to the victory, the Blues had suffered a couple of defeats in a row, with Leapi stating the side was in a sticky spot but feel like they have now come out the other end.
"I think we were stuck in the mud there for a little bit, but we are ready for a big push to the finals now."
Jamie Mazzarol Kotz continued his impressive form with a double against the Warriors, with Leapi pleased he is on his team.
"He's a freak, I call him a tractor with a 1000 horsepower, he's good to have around on the park."
It's an important game in the context of the season for both Blues and Rams, with the winner taking a massive step towards a home final, however the focus for the home side is purely on their own performance.
"The focus is on ourselves, I think if we ice our gameplan when we head out there, we will come away with the two points."
"I think all games from now on are important for us and the Rams are going to be a good contest on the weekend."
Meanwhile, for the Rams they enter the round with confidence after defeating the Bushrangers 19‑6, with Sam Gash stating the side's defence was critical to the victory.
"The Bushrangers were throwing everything at us, we had a lot of defence on our line, and we made it hard on ourselves to control the whole game, but we got it done in the end," Gash said.
The Rams defensive resilience last week will be crucial as they face one of the competition’s toughest attacking sides, with the talented outside back stating their defensive work has been a focus all season.
"Every training that's probably our main focus, it's the first thing we do, every week we look at the previous and see what we did wrong and how that can be fixed for the next game moving forward."
Sam Gash will shift back to fullback after Rams Co-Captain Coach re-injured his hamstring in the victory against the Bushrangers, with this a job he feels confident in completing.
"The job doesn't really change for me; the focus is just getting the yardage carries out and looking for quick play the balls."
The Rams are entering this contest wary of the threat that the Blues middles poses and will be focused on ensuring they shut this threat down.
"We know they've got their strength in the middle; they've got a big pack which are mobile and have ball skills as well, so we have to limit their opportunities and win the middle."
With finals approaching and both teams in the top four mix, this matchup is vital for a successful home run.
Goulburn City Bulldogs v Yass Magpies, Saturday 1st August, Workers Arena, 3:00pm
The Goulburn City Bulldogs will kick off against the Yass Magpies in front of their home crowd at Workers Arena.
The Bulldogs return from a bye and will be eager to bounce back after their narrow 28‑22 loss to the Sharks in Round 13. Sitting fifth with 10 points, Goulburn remain in the finals hunt.
Meanwhile, Yass are looking to regroup after a tough 40‑6 defeat to the Sharks. The Magpies sit last with six points and will need a strong showing to keep their season alive.
With both sides desperate for momentum, this clash creates a crucial opportunity for each club.
Gungahlin Bulls v Belconnen United Sharks, Saturday 1st August, Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, 3:00pm
The Gungahlin Bulls face a major challenge as they host the second-place Sharks, who continue to be one of the competition’s most dangerous attacking sides.
Last week, the Bulls fell 30‑18 to the competition leaders, the Kangaroos, where Nofoasa Lemalu impressed the home side with a double. The Bulls sit eighth with six points and will need a big push to threaten the Sharks.
Belconnen enter Round 15 fresh off a dominant 40‑6 win over the Magpies, where a hat-trick from fullback Tristan Eldridge saw him head to the top of the try scoring list.
Benjamin Kami sits close behind as the third highest try scorer, while Jordan Holten‑Williams is equal‑first on the points leaderboard with 112.
If the Sharks win and the Roos stumble this weekend, Belconnen could take over top spot on the ladder, adding extra motivation to an already high‑stakes matchup.
Queanbeyan Kangaroos v West Belconnen Warriors, Saturday 1st August, Seears Workwear Oval, 3:00pm
Closing out Round 15 is the Queanbeyan Kangaroos up against the West Belconnen Warriors at Seears Workwear Oval.
The Kangaroos remain the benchmark of the competition, sitting first with 20 points after last week’s 30‑18 win over the Bulls. Lucas Thomson continues to be a major attacking threat, sitting third on the point-scoring leaderboard.
The Warriors are currently seventh with eight points and will be looking to rebound after a narrow 28‑22 loss to the Blues, with the side able to take confidence from the tight contest which saw them lead late in the match.
With the Roos aiming to maintain their position at the top and the Warriors fighting to stay in finals contention, this match is crucial for both sides.
