Woodies' selective amnesia after Uni debacle

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday September 12, 2009

Rupert Guinness

EASTWOOD coach Brian Melrose had only one simple message for his battered and bruised charges as they headed into the finals series of the Shute Shield following an 81-7 thrashing by defending champions Sydney University last weekend."I was there and suffered like all the others did," recalled Eastwood captain and openside breakaway Hugh Perrett, who was in the change room at University No.1 Oval afterwards even though he didn't play because of a hamstring injury."Billy's [Melrose] message was, 'Let's forget about it and move on and don't worry about what happened."'After such a hiding there was little else the Woodies could do as they looked ahead to tomorrow's elimination final against Manly at Forshaw Park. The Woodies-Marlins clash is the second of two knockout games this weekend; the other being today's elimination fixture between Gordon and Warringah at Pittwater Park. University and Randwick both enjoy a rest week after placing first and second in the home-and-away season.Perrett, named back in the Eastwood side at No.7, is confident his side will not be scarred by the horrid defeat University handed down last week. "It was a tough lesson to learn," he said. "But it is quite easy to turn around, I'm sure. You don't lose your skills in a day. It's going to be about attitude."Eastwood, who dropped to fifth place on the ladder last week, have endured a tough run to the finals. Last week's loss came after narrow defeats to Randwick in round 20 and then Gordon in round 21 €“ and frustratingly those defeats came after they were leading.However, Manly are also in a worrying spiral. After leading the competition at the halfway stage thanks to nine wins from 10 games, they have slipped to fourth, and play tomorrow after losing their past four games.Despite last week's blow-out, Perrett still believes Eastwood have the attacking weaponry to test Manly's defence."Manly are a great defensive unit. They don't leak many tries. Any tries to get, you have to work for," Perrett said. "But they also have [fullback] Adam Darcy, who is a danger at the back. He has been scoring so many points. They have been in the top of the ladder for 90 per cent of the season. But it's going to be a good game because we are able to score points as well."As for the prospect of any club beating Sydney University for the Shute Shield down the track?Perrett is probably thankful that is a question the Woodies don't have to answer just yet. But he believes they are beatable."They have been on top for the last couple of years. They are very experienced and have a good core of players," he said. "But I think, again, it is about attitude."If you go out and play your own footy and be aggressive in defence, you can force mistakes on them like any other team. Is the gap closing? I would have said yes before last week ... but obviously I can't comment now after losing to them by so much."

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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