#SIRU2015 Round Twelve Preview:
The competition has split now and we move into the final rounds of each respective competition this weekend. Plenty to play for for all teams here and the following few weeks could see some movement of positions as the clubs progress through these remaining weeks.
It’s great to see the “regional towns” competing in the Premier Division and the Leeton/Griffith/Albury/Tumut clubs deserve some wraps for their efforts to date in 2015. They have shown up the fancier teams in the bigger centres which I believe is a positive for the zone. Leeton are streets ahead in the Club Championships which is a sensational reversal of the last couple of years.
PREMIER DIVISION:
Griffith (3) v Leeton (2) – Match of the Round @ Coro Club, Griffith
The Phantoms make the short trip down the road to the Coro Club this week take on the 3rd placed Blacks. Leeton have been playing a physical brand of footy this season which is partly due to the strength of their midfield players.
Griffith have a few injury clouds at the moment and although they will want these key players back, they do have a little bit of room to breathe at present. The likes of Daniel Dowson and Nick Gleeson are important for the Blacks go-forward.
From what I have seen of Griffith this year, their backline is where they have been doing the most damage; however the Phantoms have some handy players in the centres in Farell Moata and Max Ravouvou who can handle the likes of Sonny Salepolu and Semisi Rogoyawa. The matchups with these players will have an impact on the outcome of this game.
Both forward packs are well matched; Griffith may have dipped a bit without Gleeson and Dowson, but should have the depth in their 3rd graders to cover. The Leeton front rowers of Patu and Fili will need to work hard against Mat Vitucci and co who are developing into some of the more experienced front row combinations in the local competition.
Big Joe Penne has been playing some solid defensive footy for the Phantoms recently, and his long arms are winning them some turnovers at the breakdown. He and Andries De Meyer will be key players in this aspect of the match.
This will be an exciting encounter with these two teams happy to throw the ball around and they both love defending. For me, the team who controls that contact zone best will have the best opportunities in this game.
Tumut (5) v Albury (1) @ Jarrah Park, Tumut
The Steamers head to the hills this week to take on a Tumut outfit that need to find some form to compete with the larger clubs. The basics are there, they just need to get them to gel. To be fair to the Bulls, they have missed some key players in recent weeks with Peet Vorster and Joe Reynolds both unavailable, getting these guys back on the park will be a priority for Coach Graham.
Albury have arguably been the benchmark team of the competition in recent years, a club with the ability and nouse to attract key players and coordinate their club in a way that allows them to retain these players. Think Olds, Walker, Kora, Meakins, MacDougall – all players that the Steamers have managed to attract to the club and all have had a significant impact on the competition. 2015 is no different and you can add the name Lex Botha to the above.
2015 appears to be no different for the Steamers and you get the sense that the Steamers are starting to build again this year, they have been able to settle on combinations and appear to have a pretty strong stance across the park.
Waratahs (4) v Ag College (6) @ Conolly Rugby Park, Wagga
Although they probably shouldn’t have needed to, these guys have worked hard to make it into the Premier Division, now they get the chance to prove they deserve to be here. While this game isn’t Match of the Round, there will be a bit of a spotlight on this game as the Premier Division clubs look at what these teams have to offer.
Ag College are missing ex-Waratahs and Junee halfback Sam Hobbs who is on tour at present, his speed of service at the breakdown allowed them to be on the front foot and they are missing that first step forward. Aggies forwards are handy enough but will have a game on their hands against the Waratahs pack in this hitout.
Waratahs promised so much early in the season and have scraped into the Premier Division with four wins on the trot. That form will be handy coming into this game; however it is important to note that while they are in 4th position on the ladder, they haven’t beaten any of the teams above them on the ladder.
Consistency has been a genuine issue for both these teams this year and they have arguably been their own worst enemies on that front. Whilst I’m sure that is frustrating for the coaches, it can be a positive for them in that this is an area of the game that the players are in full control of.
FIRST DIVISION:
Deni v Temora (10) – 2nd Grade Only, no game
CSU (7) v Wagga City (8) @ Beres Elwood Oval, CSU
City’s traditionally strong forward pack has seen a makeover this season that has probably seen them lose a bit of impact on that front. There were some old heads in that forward pack who settled the game for them and these guys are proving very difficult to replace.
Reddies “never say die” attitude and ability to exploit opposition weakness has held them in good stead in the past few years. The way they manage to pull a rabbit out of the hat at key times in the game has put a number of teams to the sword in some nail-biting finishes.
For me, this game will be a close affair, City need to commit to their patterns and use their bigger forwards as an attacking weapon to allow their backs room to move. Reddies on the other hand will be happy for the game to be played on the fringes, swinging from side to side in an effort to tire their bigger opponents.
Young (9) v Coota (11) @ Hall Brothers Oval, Young
A local derby here this week in what will be some pretty fresh conditions at Hall Brothers Oval and one that will show Cootamundra what the remaining rounds will be like.
The Yabbies showed plenty or promise early in the season but have failed to transfer that promise onto the pitch which has ultimately seen them end up in the First Division, although they should be handy here over the next few weeks.
