No time to blow out the cobwebs in the Senior competition

Photo: Adam Hourigan, The Daily Examiner

Senior footy resumes on Saturday, with all teams needing to hit the ground running in the four week sprint to the Finals Series.

Port Macquarie Magpies and Coffs Harbour Breakers can’t be deposed from the top two places but there’s no room for complacency as these teams face off against each other in the first match back. Both will see winning this match as critically important as it not only strikes a psychological blow, but also starts their run to the Finals in the best fashion possible.

Port are at home and will be looking to leverage off this to gain the upper hand. However the last meeting between these two teams was also in Port and it was Breakers who emerged as victors on that day so the Coffs team will go into this match knowing they can best the Magpies in their own nest.

In the other Senior match, a win for Sawtell Toormina Saints over the Grafton Tigers will seal third spot and a place in the Finals.

Saints aren’t used to being this close to season’s end and not yet being guaranteed a Finals appearance. 2019 has been full of challenges and the Saints will be desperate to lock in their end of season duties so they can concentrate on closing the gap to the top two teams.

Grafton are enduring their own tough season, made harder by a recent run of injuries. The break will have given them the chance to get troops fit and back on deck.

The Tigers have generally lifted when playing under lights and the later starting time of 3:50pm at Ellem Oval will mean that the second half of the match will be played with the floodlights on. The Tigers will be seeing this match as the chance to build momentum towards an improved season in 2020.

A preview of the round 12 matches in the Women’s competition will appear online on Friday (26 July).

Round 12 fixtures – Saturday 27 July

Port Macquarie Magpies v Coffs Harbour Breakers at Wayne Richards Park (Under 17 at 10:00am, Women at 11:50am, Reserves at 1:20pm, Seniors at 2:50pm)

Grafton Tigers / Northern Beaches Blues v Sawtell Toormina Saints at Ellem Oval, Grafton (Under 17 at 11:00am, Women at 12:50pm, Reserves at 2:20pm, Seniors at 3:50pm)

For full fixture details, click here.