Sydney teams to clash in NEAFL

By Matt Rossleigh

Sydney Hills Eagles and Sydney University will be looking to notch their first victory of the NEAFL season when they meet on Saturday night at Bruce Purser Reserve.

Both clubs are coming off convincing losses in their first matches of the season against Ainslie and Belconnen respectively in the ACT last weekend.

Gavin Lawrence from the Eagles says Saturday night’s match at Rouse Hill is an important day for the club with plenty of entertainment for the fans who are planning on heading out to watch.

“We’ll have five of our teams playing at home on Saturday and we’ll also have our Under 18’s team unfurling their Premiership flag from last season so we are expecting a big crowd,” said Lawrence.

The two clubs will be playing for the Gordon Physick Cup which recognises the tireless work Harvey “Banger” Gordon and Peter Physick have given to Sydney University and Sydney Hills Eagles respectively.

After making the finals in their inaugural season, Lawrence says the Eagles will be looking to earn their first victory of the season and achieve their goal of making the finals in back to back seasons.

“After making the finals last season that’s definitely our goal for the season, we want to achieve that again and we can do that by building a fortress at home,” said Lawrence.

Sydney University coach Daniel Gilmore said before the season this is the game the club looks forward to as they see the Eagles as their arch rivals.

“They’re our arch rivals, they took us down two games to one last year so we’ll try get the upper hand this year,” said Gilmore at the NEAFL season launch.

The match takes place Bruce Purser Reserve on Saturday from 7pm.

Elsewhere in NEAFL, after a narrow five point victory over UWS GIANTS last weekend, Sydney Swans reserves will host Gold Coast SUNS on Saturday morning in a curtain raiser for the AFL clash in the afternoon.

The SUNS last week had a 20 goal victory over Mt Gravatt in their opening match of the season in the northern conference.

After the five point last to the Swans reserves last week, UWS GIANTS travel to Brisbane to play the Lions who are coming off a 14 goal victory over Morningside.