Round 12 preview: Mouth Watering Local Derby to the Fore

Photo: Brad Greenshields, Coffs Coast Advocate

The headline act of round 12 of the Senior Competition is the local derby clash between Sawtell Toormina Saints and Coffs Breakers. And if the derby status doesn’t add enough spice to this match, it’s also a top of the ladder clash and a Grand Final re-match!

Sawtell head into this match one game clear as ladder leaders and know they need to win to maintain this advantage. If they are to overcome their fiercest rival they also need to overcome a mounting injury toll as Brandt Lee has returned to the sidelines after just one match courtesy of his troublesome hamstring, and Malcolm Trotter joins him with a broken hand. This adds to longer term injuries in Andrew Ellis. Mark Couzens, and Scott Bicknell giving the Richardson Park facilities the look of a hospital ward.

The Saints should be boosted by the inclusion of new recruit Danyon McEvoy who has just transferred in from Sydney and will be frantically looking to get up to match fitness as quickly as possible.

Sawtell will be glad to be at home and hope this will help them overcome their injury woes.

Breakers on the other hand look to be travelling well in the fitness stakes and this should pose an advantage for them. Jacob Sincock is likely to be on duty in Sydney whilst Harry Parker is recovering from a broken hand. They came through last week’s run against Port in fine form and will be eager to get straight back into stride from the first bounce.

Saints and Breakers have met twice previously this season with the ledger standing at one win apiece. With one further match between the two sides during the home and away season a loss for either side won’t be disastrous, but neither will want to go behind in the head to head count.

In the other match of the round, Grafton Tigers are at home against the Port Macquarie Magpies.

There have been two matches played between these two sides in 2017, with each winning on their home patch. Grafton’s win back in round 3 represents their only success of the season and this match is the perfect chance for them to double the tally in the wins column.

They should have two new recruits within their ranks boasting excellent football pedigree. Josh Veness has just moved across from WA and provide a quality option at either end of the park, whilst Tom Givney returns to town after a sting in Tasmania. The inclusion of these two players will provide a welcome boost to both the team’s performance and morale.

Port Magpies, on the other hand, are expected to struggle. Not only do the Magpies traditionally travel poorly to Grafton they will be without key players Scott Dalton (travel), Blake Nelson (travel), and Jesse Schmidt who is yet to resume playing following knee surgery a month ago. These three would represent a big loss to any North Coast team but even more so to the magpies who are struggling with depth.

If Port can claim victory on the road under these circumstances it will be one of the club’s great wins and could set them up for a run to the Finals that concludes with three consecutive home games.

Round 12 Fixtures:

Sawtell Toormina Saints v Coffs Breakers – Richardson Park, Sawtell at 2:20pm

Grafton Tigers v Port Macquarie Magpies – Ellem Oval, Grafton at 2:20pm