The XXXX Gold Taree Cup of 2000m will be run at 4.14pm and is the highlight of an eight event program that gets underway from 12.37pm.-

Manning River Times racing expert Doug Ryan has selected Lucky Liaison to win from Phrases and Scottish Border.

The carnival started on Friday.-

It's semi-final time in Group Three Rugby League. At Port Macquarie on Saturday the Port Sharks will be favoured to beat Wingham in the elimination match while Macleay Mustangs should be too smart for Old Bar in the preliminary match at Kempsey on Sunday. -

Group Three Junior League finals will be played at the Jack Neal Oval on Saturday from 9am.-

League tag will start the program on both days, kicking off at 10.55. First grade will be underway from 3pm.-

The last round of the Football Mid North Coast Premier League will be decided on Saturday. Port Saints, currently sixth, have to beat last placed Wingham but then hope that Kempsey Saints either draw or lose to third placed Camden Haven if they are going to break into the top five.-

Minor premiers Wallis Lake clash with second placed Port United at Forster while the in-form Macleay Valley tackles Port FC.-

At Old Bar the Barbarians meet arch rivals Taree with the winner to take home the Bryson Challacombe Shield. Taree currently holds the shield from the inaugural game played last season.-

Meanwhile it has been confirmed that Tuncurry-Forster will challenge Wingham for a place in the premier league next year. The promotion/relegation game will be played on premier league grand final day next month.-

Taree Showground will be the venue for dressage championships on Saturday and Sunday.-

The opening round of the Club Taree Golf Club's championships sponsored by Saxby-Schweppes will be played on Saturday. The next three rounds will be on the following three Saturdays. Ben Marron is the defending champion.-

Semi-finalists have been determined in Lower North Coast Rugby but there are still two rounds remaining before the playoffs. On Saturday Manning Ratz make the trip to Tea Gardens to play Myall Coast while injury plagued Wallamba host Forster-Tuncurry. Gloucester has the bye.-

Manning Bowling Association's champion of club singles champions will conclude at Tuncurry on Saturday. The event was curtailed last weekend because of rain. Semi-finals will be played on Saturday morning.