Saints and Tigers looking to turn their fortunes around

Photo: Adam Hourigan, The Daily Examiner

Sawtell Toormina Saints welcome Grafton men and the Northern Beaches/Grafton Women to Richardson, but won’t be wanting to make them feel too welcome!

Both clubs are enduring challenging seasons. Sawtell are the reigning premiers in both Seniors and Women’s but the defence of their titles hasn’t gone to plan. Retirements, players leaving town, and injuries have all contributed to the challenges faced by both teams.

The Saints’ Men played two good quarters last week and were excellent in the third term when they fought their way back into the match against Breakers. If they can replicate that form for a full four quarter effort they will trouble any team in the competition. Their two wins of the season have both come against Grafton and they need to rack up the trifecta to ensure they maintain a modicum of contact with the top two teams.

Hamish Bird’s recent return has been a welcome boon for the club and adds the much needed leadership that will help the Saints teen brigade to make the adjustment to Senior footy all the more quickly. That leadership will be sorely needed as captain Matt Dwyer’s name will be on the injury list for at least the next couple of weeks.

Grafton are down on numbers, down on form, and down on results. The players who do show up every week give their all and were rewarded last time out when they claimed the honours in the second quarter against Port. Whilst winning one quarter of footy doesn’t earn a team the points, it is a positive that the Tigers can focus upon as they try to turn their fortunes around.

James Hourigan, Wayne Phillips, and Chris Leslie continue to show their passion for the Tigers jumper. Hopefully other Senior players see the outstanding example set by these stalwarts and step up to help out.

In the Women’s match, Sawtell find themselves in the rare position of having gone two rounds without a win. Last week they welcomed back premiership players Kasey Uikelotu and Keira Basset from the injury ward and both should be better for the run.

Northern Beaches/Grafton have struggled at times in their debut season but that was to be expected. The team has given the other clubs 12 months head start which, in a competition that is in its infancy, is a huge advantage.

The Blue Tigers came within four points of claiming their first ever win when last these two teams met and will be hoping that the experience of players such as Rani Grant, Ash Miller, Deanna Paul, and Britt Hargreaves can inspire the newer players to an even greater effort.

Sawtell will want to ensure they don’t become their opponents first scalp. They will look for an improved performance that will set them on the path to being able to compete more strongly against the top two teams in the competition.

Round 9 fixtures – Saturday 22 June

Port Macquarie Magpies v Coffs Harbour Breakers at Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie (Under 17 at 10:00am, Women at 11:50am, Reserves at 1:20pm, Seniors at 2:50pm)

Sawtell Toormina Saints v Grafton Tigers / Northern Beaches Blues at Richardson Park, Sawtell (Under 17 at 10:00am, Women at 11:50am, Reserves at 1:20pm, Seniors at 2:50pm)

For full fixture details, click here.