RANDWICK coach Mark Giacheri concedes that his side's horror loss to long-term rivals Gordon might have compromised their bid for a top-two place in the finals.
A rest week awaits the first two sides on the Shute Shield ladder when the tournament reaches the finals. But after Randwick lost 42-7 to Gordon on Saturday it seems - on form - Sydney University and Gordon will take those spots.
"It was a big game in terms of trying to finish first or second," Giacheri said after the round-13 clash which kept Gordon in second place, edging within three points of the Students who still head the ladder after beating West Harbour 25-20 at University Oval.
"The top two teams will get a rest weekend when they get to the finals, which offers those teams a lot. Whereas for the others, without that break it makes for a very long season."
Giacheri rates the Highlanders as a team on the rise, judging by their strong victory over his Galloping Greens at Coogee.
"Gordon have the capacity to upset University. They play percentage rugby, don't make many mistakes and force their opposition into making them," Giacheri said.
Despite Gordon beating them earlier this season, the mood at Randwick was that they could turn around that defeat, when they scored more tries but still lost.
Although down only 7-0 at half-time, Randwick's plans to avenge that loss were blown away in the second half when the Highlanders routed the home side, scoring five tries. Despite enjoying early field position, Randwick's error rate was too high in such a physical game to have a chance of keeping Gordon at bay, let alone scoring points of their own.
Yet Giacheri says the loss would not dent their confidence were the two sides to meet again in the finals.
"I am not too concerned," he said. "They are a very good team. They are very effective as 15 players. They have some good combinations going there, having played with the same 15 all season. But we would be quietly confident … of having a good crack against them."
Giacheri will not underestimate Randwick's next opponent, ninth-placed Manly, who they will host at Coogee next Saturday. "Their place doesn't reflect how good they are," he said.
On Saturday, Manly managed to turn the tables on their one-point loss to Southern Districts in their first clash this season by beating them 44-7 at Forshaw Rugby Park. The return of Brumbies centre Tyrone Smith proved to be a plus for the Marlins, as he and centre partner Luke Johnson scored three of their side's seven tries between them.
Meanwhile, Gavin Debartolo starred for Eastern Suburbs in their 55-5 victory over Penrith at Western Weekender Stadium to be within a win of taking sixth place on the ladder. In his first game for the Beasts since his return from playing for the United States in the Churchill Cup, Debartolo scored 25 points from three tries and five conversions.
In other games, Eastwood beat Northern Suburbs 42-22 at TG Millner Field to hold on to fifth place, and Warringah beat Parramatta 42-3.
