First week of the senior finals locked in

The Coffs Breakers and Port Macquarie Mens teams will meet in a final for the first time since the 2022 Grand Final. Photo: Brad Greenshields

THE Home & Away season for the Senior competitions have come to an end and now the three-week finals series is about to begin.

Both the Qualifying Semi Finals (1st vs. 2nd) and Elimination Semi Finals (3rd vs. 4th) are going to be played on the same day this Saturday.

To ease any travel clubs are required to make between the two venues on the same day, the matches on Saturday are being played at Fitzroy Oval and Richardson Park.

Significant time gaps between the Women’s and Reserves matches have also been allocated to help with that travel.

Clubs that have had their mens and reserves teams qualify for the finals will have both of those teams playing at the same venue.

The Under 18 competition has one more round of Home & Away matches to be played. The Northern Beaches/Nambucca Valley Blue Lions will play against Port Macquarie in a match that is a virtual qualifying final anyway. If Port Macquarie can beat Northern Beaches/Nambucca Valley by at least 15 to 18 points (depending on what score the Blue Lions kick), the Magpies will take top spot on the ladder and advance to the Grand Final.

FITROY OVAL, COFFS HARBOUR (QUALIFYING SEMI FINALS)

11.00am – Women: Coffs Breakers vs. Sawtell/Toormina

1.20pm – Reserves: Coffs Breakers vs. Port Macquarie

2.50pm – Men: Port Macquarie vs. Coffs Breakers

The winners of the Qualifying Semi Finals will advance to the Grand Finals to be played at the C.ex Coffs International Stadium on August 24.

The losers of the Qualifying Semi Finals will get a second chance and will play in the Preliminary Finals to be held at Wiigulga Sports Complex on August 17.

RICHARDSON PARK, SAWTELL (ELIMINATION SEMI FINALS)

9.30am – Under 18s: Northern Beaches/Nambucca Valley vs. Port Macquarie (Home & Away match)

11.20am – Women: Northern Beaches/Nambucca Valley vs. Port Macquarie

1.20pm – Reserves: Sawtell/Toormina vs. Northern Beaches/Nambucca Valley

2.50pm – Men: Sawtell/Toormina vs. Grafton

The winners of the Elimination Semi Finals will advance to the Preliminary Finals to be played at the Wiigulga Sports Complex on August 17.

The losers of the Elimination Semi Finals will bow out of the 2024 premiership race.