Shoalhaven Remain Unbeaten With Round 12 Disrupted By Covid

By Ron Wood

Covid has struck again. With only three Round 12 matches played and next week’s matches likely to be impacted as well by the latest Covid restrictions, the IDRU Premiership race is destined to be heavily impacted once again. If restrictions announced on Saturday 26th June remain in place then Round 13 matches are unlikely to go ahead. If this eventuates as expected we will have a total of thirteen matches to be made up before the finals. Round 14 must also be in doubt which will only complicate the situation even more.

The results of the three Round 12 matches played as scheduled have had no impact on the table as far as positions are concerned but the postponements now mean that there are three clubs who have three matches to catch up. In all likelihood the powers that be will be required to make some difficult calls if we are to be able to complete enough matches to finalise a clear top four positions leading into the finals.

Bowral have returned to the winners list with a 31 – 21 home ground win over Vikings. The five competition points the Blacks earned keeps their finals ambitions alive, with Bowral now three points adrift of fifth placed Vikings. Fourth placed Campbelltown have three matches in hand and a seven point buffer ahead of Vikings so it looks as though the top four are pretty much decided.

Shoalhaven continued their outstanding season registering their eleventh win on the trot to remain on top of the ladder. A bonus point 48 – 15 win over Tech Waratahs maintains a two point lead to the Shoalies with two matches in hand. Shamrocks completed a 45 - 28 bonus point win over University to remain in second spot with one match in hand.

The interruption to the program due to the Covid Restrictions is clearly going to have an impact on the season as a whole but as things stand it should be relatively easy for the IDRU to be able to declare a top four for the finals.

Round 12 Match Results

Bowral 31 Def Vikings 21

Shoalhaven 48 Def Tech Waratahs 15

Shamrocks 45 Def University 28

Points Table – Shoalhaven 51, Shamrocks 49, Avondale 43, Campbelltown 36, Vikings 29, Bowral 26, Tech Waratahs 18, Kiama 17, University 17, Camden 10.