Under 17 and Reserves reach the last chance saloon
Under 17 pits against each other teams that have won four of the last five Premierships. Coffs Harbour Breakers and Port Macquarie Magpies have been the stand out clubs in the younger age group in recent times and this fixture will be a re-match of last year’s Grand Final.
Breakers will take much confidence into this match knowing that they haven’t lost to Port this season. At full strength they have superior playing depth which will present the Coffs outfit with an advantage on the big playing surface at C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
Despite not notching a win over Breakers, the Magpies will take heart from the knowledge that they have gone close on several occasions. Three matches have been decided by three goals or less, with the closest being a 13 point reverse. Port know that, at their best, they are a realistic chance of springing an upset but also know that nothing short of their best will do.
The Reserve Grade match is expected to be an extremely tight affair as there hasn’t been anything between Coffs Harbour Breakers and Port Macquarie Magpies all season.
Breakers hold the advantage in this encounter if only for the reason that their Seniors are already through to the Grand Final and the club doesn’t have to juggle payers between the two grades. Port don’t have this luxury, with both Seniors and Reserves in action, and will also have to overcome the challenge of a late season injury run across both teams.
Port have won on the road against Breakers this season, but that was back in early May. The last encounter was only two weeks ago and resulted in a narrow six point win for Port so this could go down to the wire.
Preliminary Finals – Saturday 31 August
10:00am Under 17 – Coffs Harbour Breakers v Port Macquarie Magpies
11:50am Women’s – Coffs Harbour Breakers v Sawtell Toormina Saints
1:20pm Reserves – Coffs Harbour Breakers v Port Macquarie Magpies
2:50pm Seniors – Port Macquarie Magpies v Sawtell Toormina Saints
