THE Groovin’ the Moo music festival at Maitland has been a bugbear for Taree Wildcats football coach Rod Bartley in his two year tenure at the club.
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It’s a mecca for young festival goers and has left the club short on numbers as players head south for the day, preferring music to football.
However, this year the Wildcats haven’t been hit as hard by absentees for the clash against Macleay Valley at Omaru Park.
“I think we had about 12 away last year,’’ Bartley said.
“But we’ll only be missing one or two this week so we’re close to full strength.’’
The Wildcats will be going into the clash after a two week break. Taree won the opening round clash against Port Saints and then had a bye. There was a general bye in the competition last weekend, so Bartley agreed it will be like starting the season all over again.
“But it hasn’t been too bad for us,’’ he said.
“Everyone’s fit – although there’s nothing like game time – but we’ve been training really wekkl. We had a run indoors on Tuesday night because our ground was used for an over 35s game, but with the weather they way it was that was okay.’’
Macleay has started strongly with two wins. Bartley said the Rangers will have plenty of prove this year after the controversial exit in last season’s finals series. Rangers also started the season on -3 points as a consequence of last season’s preliminary final against Wallis Lake.
“They led the competition for most of the year and were the minor premiers,’’ he said.
“They also have a quality midfielder back this year and apparently he’s going great guns, so they’re going to be strong. I would again expect them to be one of the top teams in the competition.’’
Bartley said the stop-start beginning to the season will have an impact on combinations. But he said the Wildcats will have games against Macleay, Wauchope and Port United in the next three weeks to get back on song.
“The club’s in pretty good shape at the moment,’’ he said.
Bartley added the Wildcats lead the competition in first and reserve grade, but said with the bye, that’s deceptive.
In other premier league matches this weekend Port United hosts Camden Haven while Tuncurry-Forster meets Kempsey Saints at South Street.
Wauchope, still without a win after two matches, will tackle Port Saints at Wauchope. Wallis Lake has the bye.
Taree leads the pointscore on six followed by Port United four, Macleay Valley three, Camden Haven three, Kempsey three, Tuncurry-Forster three, Wallis Lake one, Wauchope 0.
