First four teams into Junior Grand Finals
An outstanding day of Junior Semi Final action highlighted how much the playing standard on the North Coast has improved in recent years, and culminated with the first four teams into the 2019 Grand Finals.
The Under 11 Major Semi was the battle of the two Port Macquarie teams, with the Swoopers prevailing in a great contest. The Swoopers get next week off while the Flyers back up in the Preliminary Final against Nambucca Valley Lions after the Lions proved too strong for Coffs Harbour Breakers.
Breakers had an outstanding second half of the season and have shown great signs for next year.
In the Under 13 competition, Bellingen Bulldogs win over Northern Beaches Blues secures the club’s first Grand Final appearance in over a decade. The Blues have the chance to regroup and face off against Nambucca Valley Lions who proved too strong for Port Macquarie Flyers in the Minor Semi.
The Flyers were in an almighty race for fourth spot with club mates the Swoopers and did a great job to get this far in an extremely competitive age group.
The Major Semi in the Youth Girls competition saw the Grafton Tigers survive an enormous scare against Coffs Harbour Breakers who had lead at the main break. Breakers now take on Bellingen Bulldogs who came out on top of a tough tackling encounter with Sawtell Toormina Saints.
The Saints have improved out of sight this season and will be a real force in 2020.
The Under 15 Major Semi rounded out a great day for the Grafton club as the team from Tigerland progressed straight through to the Grand Final with a solid win over Sawtell Toormina Saints. The Saints showed in large patches that they can match Grafton and will be keen for another shot, but must first overcome the Macleay Valley Eagles who sealed a come from behind win over Bellingen Bulldogs to progress to the Preliminary Final.
The Bulldogs played above themselves in the Minor Semi and gave themselves every chance to claim a stirring win away from home against a quality outfit.
All Preliminary Finals will be played at Richardson Park, Sawtell on Sunday 18 August (see here for details). Winners of these matches will progress to the Grand Finals the following Sunday which are at C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
