Senior season reaches midway point
The Senior Competition hits the halfway point on Saturday, with round 7 set to take on added significance as it’s followed by the general bye for the long weekend. All clubs will be looking for the victory that allows them to take winning form into the start of the run home to the Finals Series.
Port Macquarie Magpies host the Sawtell Toormina Saints in a match where both teams will be desperate. Port recorded their most important performance in several seasons last week and marked themselves as a genuine chance to claim their first Senior premiership since 2013. They will be desperate to prove to the whole competition that last week’s effort was no fluke by notching a statement win against Sawtell.
In the other camp, the Saints will be desperate to show that they can still mount a defence of their 2018 premiership. Their team is significantly changed from that which claimed the club’s 10th flag last season and is in a rebuilding phase. The Saints hierarchy won’t want to use this as an excuse and will be pulling out all stops to claim the victory that could set the team heading in the right direction.
At Fitzroy Oval, Coffs Harbour Breakers play host to the Grafton Tigers in the twilight timeslot of 4:20pm.
Breakers unblemished record came to an end last week and they will be determined to move on from that as quickly as possible. A win against the Tigers should see them head to the turn in top spot on the ladder, whilst the general bye on long weekend represents a great opportunity for injured players to recuperate. However, the Breakers can’t afford to be complacent and look too far ahead until the job against the Tigers is done.
Grafton’s last start performance was their best of the season to date. Whilst there is still some way to go to close the gap on the other teams the club does need to acknowledge the steps that have been taken and continue to show the fighting spirit that has been the hallmark of it’s season. It’s a big ask to expect the Tigers will notch their first win of the season over the Breakers but they go into the contest knowing their effort can’t be questioned.
A preview of the round 7 Women’s matches will appear online on Friday (31 May).
Round 7 fixtures – Saturday 1 June
Port Macquarie Magpies v Sawtell Toormina Saints at Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie (Under 17 at 10:00am, Women at 11:50am, Reserves at 1:20pm, Seniors at 2:50pm)
Coffs Harbour Breakers v Grafton Tigers / Northern Beaches Blues at Fitzroy Oval, Coffs Harbour (Under 17 at 10:00am, Masters at 11:50am, Women at 1:20pm, Reserves at 2:50pm, Seniors at 4:20pm)
For full fixture details, click here.
