yourmatesam
Desmond Connor (43)
#SIRU2017 Round Thirteen Preview:
Griffith (8) v Waratahs (2)
Life doesn’t get any easier for the Blacks this weekend, but on a positive note, they are back at home which should help their cause a lttle. My scouts tell me that Waratahs looked like they were going through the motions a bit last week against Reddies and that they didn’t really get into any rhythm during the game. If I was coaching the Waratahs, this would be a worry for me but full credit to the Reddies who do have a style that can be difficult to play against. Griffith will be looking for a big game from their leading try-scorer Dan McGreal. McGreal scored a barn-storming try last week from the base of the scrum, brushing away a number of would-be tacklers before crashing over the tryline to score his team’s most spectacular try of the day.
The Blacks have forfeited their 2nd Grade match this weekend, credit to the club to have made this difficult decision with a view to fielding their best XV for 1st Grade. Obviously a way to go for them as a club but a step in the right direction in my view.
Ag College (6) v CSU (7)
On-campus bragging rights are on the line here this week but this game is an important one for Aggies to be any chance of playing finals (and they need a bonus point to boot [and Albury to lose both their remaining games {and for Albury to not pick up any points in the next two rounds}]).
Reddies are an improving team in 2017, they aren’t climbing the ladder as such, but they do have some strong foundations there for the 2018 season and I’m sure nothing would please them any more than to kill Aggies season this weekend. CSU are well-lead by Mitch Fealy who controls their style well and is the level head they need at times. His match up against Cam Duffy at 5/8 could go a long way to deciding this game. One thing that Reddies have done very well for a number of years now is develop an ability to control games. No matter who they are playing against, they always manage to frustrate teams and play things their way. I wonder if Aggies are able to get past that ability this week?
Albury (5) v Leeton (1)
The Steamers will be happy to be at home for this match and will likely be hoping for some cold and blustery conditions here. Albury have been well served by Roussow Visser this season who is developing into a pretty handy player, showing some strong carries and tough defence week in and week out. He’ll need to be on his game this weekend and watching him take on Simon Vunilagi will be a highlight for this game.
City (3) v Tumut (4) – Match of the Round
A lay down misere for MOTR this week and potentially a preview for the finals also in this match, both teams are desperate to get the W on the board from this one as it will give them a second bite of the cherry come finals time.
Two big forward packs will duke it out with each other here with plenty of experience right through the pack. Some young blood in there mixed with some older campaigners also. Set pieces should be a highlight for the day as both teams really pride themselves on this aspect of the game. Key match ups here will be Dan Dowson vs Monson Tuvale – two big boppers who love hitting the ball up. Also watch out for Joe Ioane for the Bulls who is proving to be pretty hard to stop, particularly at close range – very much in the mould of one James “House” Kora from the Steamers. The Bulls will also be pretty stoked to have Menzies Seumanutafa back on the paddock this week.
The two 5/8’s will have a big impact on this game, potentially the Bulls have an edge here purely based on consistency in their halves partnership. Jayden Stanton vs Harrison Friswell are two younger footballers but both pretty strong defenders and crafty ball runners to boot. Their ability to direct traffic and control the game is going to be really important here. Playing behind big forward packs has some advantages in terms of clean ball but you’ve also got to know when to give those big blokes a breather, maybe some well-timed kicks to turn their opposition around will be on the cards here? Young Drew Martin is showing that he’s got the ability to make 1st Grade his own and could become a strong long term option for the Lollies in this capacity, how will he go against his more mature opponent Andy Graham?
Did I read somewhere earlier in the week that James Curgenven was injured? I hope not, he’s a good bloke and Wagga City will be sweating on his fitness for this game. If he’s available, watch out for his match up against Josef Glamuzina, these two guys are both classy full backs and if they get enough ball, they can really provide some strong inroads for their teams.
Conditions are set to be pretty ordinary on Saturday – cold and wet but this match is important for both teams and I’m keen to see how this one pans out. There’s bugger all between these guys in terms of points differential, they’re tied on competition points and this match should be a deadest corker!
Griffith (8) v Waratahs (2)
Life doesn’t get any easier for the Blacks this weekend, but on a positive note, they are back at home which should help their cause a lttle. My scouts tell me that Waratahs looked like they were going through the motions a bit last week against Reddies and that they didn’t really get into any rhythm during the game. If I was coaching the Waratahs, this would be a worry for me but full credit to the Reddies who do have a style that can be difficult to play against. Griffith will be looking for a big game from their leading try-scorer Dan McGreal. McGreal scored a barn-storming try last week from the base of the scrum, brushing away a number of would-be tacklers before crashing over the tryline to score his team’s most spectacular try of the day.
The Blacks have forfeited their 2nd Grade match this weekend, credit to the club to have made this difficult decision with a view to fielding their best XV for 1st Grade. Obviously a way to go for them as a club but a step in the right direction in my view.
Ag College (6) v CSU (7)
On-campus bragging rights are on the line here this week but this game is an important one for Aggies to be any chance of playing finals (and they need a bonus point to boot [and Albury to lose both their remaining games {and for Albury to not pick up any points in the next two rounds}]).
Reddies are an improving team in 2017, they aren’t climbing the ladder as such, but they do have some strong foundations there for the 2018 season and I’m sure nothing would please them any more than to kill Aggies season this weekend. CSU are well-lead by Mitch Fealy who controls their style well and is the level head they need at times. His match up against Cam Duffy at 5/8 could go a long way to deciding this game. One thing that Reddies have done very well for a number of years now is develop an ability to control games. No matter who they are playing against, they always manage to frustrate teams and play things their way. I wonder if Aggies are able to get past that ability this week?
Albury (5) v Leeton (1)
The Steamers will be happy to be at home for this match and will likely be hoping for some cold and blustery conditions here. Albury have been well served by Roussow Visser this season who is developing into a pretty handy player, showing some strong carries and tough defence week in and week out. He’ll need to be on his game this weekend and watching him take on Simon Vunilagi will be a highlight for this game.
City (3) v Tumut (4) – Match of the Round
A lay down misere for MOTR this week and potentially a preview for the finals also in this match, both teams are desperate to get the W on the board from this one as it will give them a second bite of the cherry come finals time.
Two big forward packs will duke it out with each other here with plenty of experience right through the pack. Some young blood in there mixed with some older campaigners also. Set pieces should be a highlight for the day as both teams really pride themselves on this aspect of the game. Key match ups here will be Dan Dowson vs Monson Tuvale – two big boppers who love hitting the ball up. Also watch out for Joe Ioane for the Bulls who is proving to be pretty hard to stop, particularly at close range – very much in the mould of one James “House” Kora from the Steamers. The Bulls will also be pretty stoked to have Menzies Seumanutafa back on the paddock this week.
The two 5/8’s will have a big impact on this game, potentially the Bulls have an edge here purely based on consistency in their halves partnership. Jayden Stanton vs Harrison Friswell are two younger footballers but both pretty strong defenders and crafty ball runners to boot. Their ability to direct traffic and control the game is going to be really important here. Playing behind big forward packs has some advantages in terms of clean ball but you’ve also got to know when to give those big blokes a breather, maybe some well-timed kicks to turn their opposition around will be on the cards here? Young Drew Martin is showing that he’s got the ability to make 1st Grade his own and could become a strong long term option for the Lollies in this capacity, how will he go against his more mature opponent Andy Graham?
Did I read somewhere earlier in the week that James Curgenven was injured? I hope not, he’s a good bloke and Wagga City will be sweating on his fitness for this game. If he’s available, watch out for his match up against Josef Glamuzina, these two guys are both classy full backs and if they get enough ball, they can really provide some strong inroads for their teams.
Conditions are set to be pretty ordinary on Saturday – cold and wet but this match is important for both teams and I’m keen to see how this one pans out. There’s bugger all between these guys in terms of points differential, they’re tied on competition points and this match should be a deadest corker!
