OLD Bar are two from two to start the Group Three Rugby League season, however, co-coach Jason Morrissey tips Saturday’s showdown against Port Macquarie at Old Bar will be his team’s toughest assignment.
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The Sharks are tipped to be among the leading contenders this year. Potr lost to Port City in a fluctuating encounter first-up before thrashing Macleay Valley last weekend.
“Port’s a good side and we’ll give them plenty of respect,’’ Morrissey said.
"I’m expecting a really hard game this weekend.’’
The Pirates made it through last Saturday’s bruising encounter against Taree City unscathed. Five-eighth Nathan Maher was unavailable last week but is set to return against the Sharks.
“I’m not sure where we’ll play him yet – I'll wait until training to see if his he back first,’’ Morrissey said.
“But both our halves went pretty well against Taree, so we haven’t decided yet what we’ll do there.’’
Morrissey said the Pirates are continuing to improve.
“Our online defence is good and our ball control is getting better,’’ he said.
“Once we start holding onto the ball, we’ll be a good football team.’’
While conceding he’d like to have the use of a couple more middle forwards, Morrissey said he’s generally happy with the makeup of the side. He confirmed that prop Jarad Wooster, who is still eligible for under 18s, will stay in the top grade. Joel Dark, another under 18, will alternate between juniors and firsts, although Dark will be away this weekend.
- Meanwhile the North Coast side to meet Central Coast at Macksville in the opening round of the Country Championships is: (in alphabetical order): Luke Beaumont (Orara Valley), Owen Blair (Port City), Alex Bunt (Orara Valley), Dylan Collett (Grafton Ghosts), Josh Cockbain (Sawtell), Shannon Ellem (Old Bar), Dylan Hemsley (Wauchope), Michael Hart (Orara Valley), Latreel Hampton (Sawtell), Kobi Hugen (Wauchope), Riley Glover (Forster-Tuncurry), Dean Mills (Taree City), Jake Mullen (Wingham), Zac Johnson (Nambucca), Joe McKay (Macksville), Jarrod Roberts (Orara Valley), Mitch Smith (Port Macquarie), Mitch Wilbow (Port Macquarie). Dean Hurrell from Wauchope will be the coach.
The side was selected after the Group Three/Group Three game played at Wingham last Saturday, win 26-24 by Group Three, where a sideline conversion of an Owen Blair try by winger Dean Mills in the last three minutes proved the match winner.
Battered Bulls prepare to tackle Blues
TAREE City players were battered and bruised when they made their way to the sheds after losing to Old Bar 20-6 in the Group Three Rugby League match at Wingham last Saturday night.
The Bulls were light on for reserves after injuries sidelined Keiren Cochrane, Josh Northam and Matt Taupe. Cochrane, who was playing fullback, damaged his ankle in the first half and played no further part in the encounter.
However, captain-coach Matt Everitt said the injury problem isn't as bad as it first looked.
“A lot of the boys were sore after that match, but I’m expecting most of them to be right for this weekend,’’ he said.
The Bulls make the trip to Wauchope on Sunday. Wauchope is currently 0/2 after losses to Old Bar and Wingham and Everitt believes this will make them even more dangerous..
Taupe was assisted off midway through the second half however, Everitt is confident he’ll be right while he’ll check the fitness of the other players before finalising the side.
Everitt was happy with his side’s defence against the Pirates.
“They scored three tries from kicks,’’ he pointed out.
“I thought we held them pretty well.’’
However, he said the ball control was poor and that was an area the Bulls were good against Macleay Valley the previous week.
Price right off the bench
WINGHAM captain-coach Danny Russell will again start English import Danny Price off the bench when the Tigers take on Group Three Rugby League heavy-weights Port City at Port Macquarie tomorrow.
Price played reserve grade and was impressive when he was called into first grade last week in the clash against Wauchope at Wauchope, where the Tigers scored an strong 30-18 win.
“But I can’t really change a winning side – everyone’s been to training – so Danny will play reserve grade and then off the bench,’’ Russell said.
“Hopefully he’ll provide the same spark as he did against Wauchope.’’
Russell said Price will be in his longer term plans, although that will depend on form and training attendance.
While Wingham go into the match with a perfect record, Russell admits the Breakers will be a step up in class.
“They’re the benchmark and their pre-season form was nothing like the form they show in the competition, which usually happens,’’ he said.
Hawks desperate for a win
TWO sides without a win in the opening fortnight of the Group Three Rugby League season will clash on Sunday at Kempsey when Macleay Valley hosts Forster-Tuncurry.
The Hawks have been heavily beaten by Wingham and Port City while Macleay’s gone down to Taree City and Port Macquarie. Last weekend’s game against the Sharks was called off 10 minutes early by referee Brad Ross when the Mustangs only had 10 players on the field because of indiscretions.
Forster coach Phil Adamson said his side ‘self destructed’ against Wingham but he added they showed more fight against the Breakers last week.
“We had a few players out because of suspension and injuries but they showed a bit of fight,’’ he said.
Phil Adamson said the Hawks will be close to full strength for the clash against Macleay Valley.
“‘Backhoe’ (Chris Simon) returns from suspension, Max Elliott might be right, although Chris Coulton will probably miss another week,’’ Adamson said.
He maintains the vibe in the club remains positive.
“We had a good run on Tuesday night,’’ he said.
“We’ll put a fairly decent side on the paddock.’’
