Beware the full strength Saints
Jaymus Troutman gets a kick away for Sawtell/Toormina. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing
HAVING reached last year’s grand final, Sawtell/Toormina has failed to hit the same heights in 2021 but they may be about to change.
The Saints will run on to Richardson Park on Saturday to meet the in-form Northern Beaches with an arrow in their quiver they’ve been unable to fire all season long according to playing-coach Brandt Lee.
“We’ll get some players back this weekend and we’ll be fielding our strongest team for the year,” Lee said.
“It will be good to finally play against the Blues with our earlier match against them being washed out.”
The Blues have won six matches on the trot including last week’s big win over the previously undefeated Coffs Breakers.
Northern Beaches coach Rory Evans said come the first bounce on Saturday last week’s result counts for little and added his team needs to be wary of what a full-strength Sawtell/Toormina can produce.
“We just have to back up. We know that their best 22 is a very, very good 22 but it’s about repeatability for us,” Evans said.
“We probably did it for three quarters against the Breakers. Trying to do it for four quarters and managing the game is really critical.”
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Clancy O’Neill and his Grafton teammates will no doubt be fighting hard for the four points at Lismore on Saturday. Photo: Green Shoots Marketing
Tigers face a must win contest
IF reigning premier Grafton is going to have the chance to defend its title come finals time, the Tigers probably need to win Saturday’s away game against the Lismore Swans.
A loss in this vital clash would see Grafton fall two and a half games behind the third placed Lismore with just four matches remaining and possibly a game and a half behind fourth placed Port Macquarie. Most would agree that’s less than an ideal situation.
The Tigers chances have improved greatly with news the Swans have injury concerns and could field a line-up below full strength. Grafton coach Adi Campbell said the Swans aren’t the only team forced to take the field with some players missing.
“It’s very important for us being outside the top four that we get up there and give it our best shot,” Campbell said.
“We’ve got a couple of injuries ourselves so we’ll just have to wait and see how we go.”
While the Swans are inside the top four, their coach Ashley Pritchard would dearly love to wrap up the four points on the weekend.
“Every game is super important now,” Pritchard said.
“Grafton and Port Macquarie are the two teams behind us on the ladder so if we can get a win over Grafton it will be great for us.”
Breakers in uncharted territory
FOR the first time this year the Coffs Breakers will head into a clash coming off a loss.
The Breakers will be at home on Saturday with an early start time for its match against Nambucca Valley.
The Lions have won only one match so far in 2021 but last week’s five-point loss to Sawtell/Toormina shows Nambucca Valley is getting better as a unit.
It was certainly a result that has made Breakers’ coach Kevin Wilson wary of the Lions.
“I think Nambucca are on the improve and they’ve got some players back. They’re a physical side so we’ll have to be ready for that physicality,” Wilson said
“And it will be good to see how the boys respond after a loss.”
Lions face long migration
IT’S not quite the trek the wildebeest face when they roam the depth and breadth of the great Serengeti but it’s still long day of driving ahead for Casino.
When they reach Wayne Richards Park, this time the Lions will be the prey and Port Macquarie the predator hunting as a team like the hyenas or even the crocodiles waiting in the waters of the Grumeti River.
The Magpies are aiming for their third consecutive win and a chance to entrench themselves inside the top four, particularly if other results go their way this round.
Casino will have some confidence heading into this clash though. The last time these two teams met Casino kicked its highest score of the season.
ROUND 10 – SATURDAY, JULY 3
SAWTELL/TOORMINA vs NORTHERN BEACHES at Richardson Park, Sawtell
(10.50am – Women; 12.20pm – Reserves; 1.50pm – Seniors)
LISMORE SWANS vs GRAFTON at Oakes Oval, Lismore
(1.20pm – Women; 2.50pm – Seniors)
COFFS BREAKERS vs NAMBUCCA VALLEY at Fitzroy Oval/Old Camp, Coffs Harbour
(10am – Under-17s [Breakers vs Saints]; 1.00pm – Seniors)
PORT MACQUARIE vs CASINO LIONS at Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie
(2.50pm – Seniors)
