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Desmond Connor (43)
ROUND FIVE:
This is a really exciting round this week as there are some great matchups across the board. Albury v Aggies is easily match of the round while at the other end of the spectrum, we have Temora v RARC fighting for points as well as the mid-table clash between Coota and City.
CSU (3) v Leeton (9) @ Beres Ellwood Oval +10
Leeton manned up against an unsuspecting Steamers outfit in the MIA last week and will travel to “Beres Ellwood Oval +10” this week with some fire in the tank in round five. CSU are coasting along at the moment and still have plenty of things to work on if coach Cannon Banks is correct in his musings in the DA. Mitch Fealy has been a standout for the Reddies so far this year and has been tested in several positions over the past four rounds and will return to the sting this week. Leeton need to take their home form on the road and make CSU work for every metre this week as they did to Albury last week.
Tahs (4) v Griffith (8) @ Conolly Rugby Park
This is an intriguing matchup here and I’m sure Tahs would be nervous leading into this one as Griffith are capable of playing some good footy when it counts while Tahs have been patchy at best so far this season. Following their 80 point drubbing of RARC last week Tahs will have some confidence coming into this match, while Griffith lost at the Coro Club they were well served by Ben Martin and Michael Stally who both put in solid performances. Tahs will be happy to welcome Manning Doughty to the fold and they will need a big bopper like Manning to take on the Griffith pack and give them some go forward.
Temora (12) v RARC (11) @ Temora Recreation Ground
Bottom of the table clash here this week and I think it will be a tough day out for Temora as they essentially are hosting two separate clubs this week which means both visiting grades will have fresh reserves for their matches while Temora won’t. Hay made light work of Tahs last week and they will be pumped to do the same against Temora this week while RARC have been putting in plenty of effort for little reward so far this season. The first grade fixture will be a close affair at Temora Recreation Ground, there will be some solid defence and ball running on show in the centres. RARC may have a slight advantage in the forwards, but Temora have some handy backs in Campbell Maxwell, Bill McCrone and Matt Swanston who can do some damage.
Albury (1) v Aggies (2) MATCH OF THE ROUND @ Murrayfield
Top of the table clash this week with Aggies travelling to fortress Murrayfield with some cracking form behind them and some whopping runs on the board so far this season. Looking at the for and against figures, both clubs are evenly matched with Albury bagging one more bonus point than Aggies. Across the park both teams have well balanced forward packs, with Albury having a slight edge in the backs as Justin Wheatley has more experience than Dan Moloney at first five. As much as it is early in the season, fitness may be a deciding factor here as Albury are still building while Aggies have had such impressive numbers at their pre-season that everyone has had to work hard for their spot in First Grade. My mail says that Aggies have got some great systems in place and also show outstanding patience for the full 80mins while Albury are still adding these skills to their repertoire. It will be great to see what Richard Turnbull and Don Cameron, who are arguably the standout coaches in the zone, have been plotting for this game.
Young (5) v Tumut (10) @ Cranfield Oval
Tumut were pipped at the post at home last week in what was a good hitout for them as a club, although the result didn’t go their way, they stuck to it for 80mins which is positive. Young were on the wrong end of an Ag College hiding last week which will have highlighted where their strengths and weaknesses lie at this stage of the season. Tumut are in the process of rebuilding their club after the “retirement” of Jock Mason (don’t tell his missus that he played on Saturday) and they still have a way to go in terms of their combinations and options during the game. Young halfback Seth Stoltenberg has been enduring a baptism of fire in his first year of First Grade footy and will need to guide his forwards around the paddock with plenty of yap this weekend.
Coota (7) v City (6) @ Cootamundra Beach Rugby Park
After getting out of jail against Tumut at Jarrah Park last weekend, Coota have a tough game against a strong City side in Round Five. Although this is a middle of the table clash this weekend, for me the deciding factor in this game is the for and against records of both clubs. Only one competition point separates City and Coota while City enjoy a 59 point points differential against Coota’s 9 point points differential. Looking at past results, both teams had similar games against Aggies with City losing 29-8 and Coota losing 40-7 so nothing to split them on there. This game could go either way, both forward packs will be reasonably evenly match, City may have the edge in the backs. Look out for Alex Hardie who is in good form for Coota.
This is a really exciting round this week as there are some great matchups across the board. Albury v Aggies is easily match of the round while at the other end of the spectrum, we have Temora v RARC fighting for points as well as the mid-table clash between Coota and City.
CSU (3) v Leeton (9) @ Beres Ellwood Oval +10
Leeton manned up against an unsuspecting Steamers outfit in the MIA last week and will travel to “Beres Ellwood Oval +10” this week with some fire in the tank in round five. CSU are coasting along at the moment and still have plenty of things to work on if coach Cannon Banks is correct in his musings in the DA. Mitch Fealy has been a standout for the Reddies so far this year and has been tested in several positions over the past four rounds and will return to the sting this week. Leeton need to take their home form on the road and make CSU work for every metre this week as they did to Albury last week.
Tahs (4) v Griffith (8) @ Conolly Rugby Park
This is an intriguing matchup here and I’m sure Tahs would be nervous leading into this one as Griffith are capable of playing some good footy when it counts while Tahs have been patchy at best so far this season. Following their 80 point drubbing of RARC last week Tahs will have some confidence coming into this match, while Griffith lost at the Coro Club they were well served by Ben Martin and Michael Stally who both put in solid performances. Tahs will be happy to welcome Manning Doughty to the fold and they will need a big bopper like Manning to take on the Griffith pack and give them some go forward.
Temora (12) v RARC (11) @ Temora Recreation Ground
Bottom of the table clash here this week and I think it will be a tough day out for Temora as they essentially are hosting two separate clubs this week which means both visiting grades will have fresh reserves for their matches while Temora won’t. Hay made light work of Tahs last week and they will be pumped to do the same against Temora this week while RARC have been putting in plenty of effort for little reward so far this season. The first grade fixture will be a close affair at Temora Recreation Ground, there will be some solid defence and ball running on show in the centres. RARC may have a slight advantage in the forwards, but Temora have some handy backs in Campbell Maxwell, Bill McCrone and Matt Swanston who can do some damage.
Albury (1) v Aggies (2) MATCH OF THE ROUND @ Murrayfield
Top of the table clash this week with Aggies travelling to fortress Murrayfield with some cracking form behind them and some whopping runs on the board so far this season. Looking at the for and against figures, both clubs are evenly matched with Albury bagging one more bonus point than Aggies. Across the park both teams have well balanced forward packs, with Albury having a slight edge in the backs as Justin Wheatley has more experience than Dan Moloney at first five. As much as it is early in the season, fitness may be a deciding factor here as Albury are still building while Aggies have had such impressive numbers at their pre-season that everyone has had to work hard for their spot in First Grade. My mail says that Aggies have got some great systems in place and also show outstanding patience for the full 80mins while Albury are still adding these skills to their repertoire. It will be great to see what Richard Turnbull and Don Cameron, who are arguably the standout coaches in the zone, have been plotting for this game.
Young (5) v Tumut (10) @ Cranfield Oval
Tumut were pipped at the post at home last week in what was a good hitout for them as a club, although the result didn’t go their way, they stuck to it for 80mins which is positive. Young were on the wrong end of an Ag College hiding last week which will have highlighted where their strengths and weaknesses lie at this stage of the season. Tumut are in the process of rebuilding their club after the “retirement” of Jock Mason (don’t tell his missus that he played on Saturday) and they still have a way to go in terms of their combinations and options during the game. Young halfback Seth Stoltenberg has been enduring a baptism of fire in his first year of First Grade footy and will need to guide his forwards around the paddock with plenty of yap this weekend.
Coota (7) v City (6) @ Cootamundra Beach Rugby Park
After getting out of jail against Tumut at Jarrah Park last weekend, Coota have a tough game against a strong City side in Round Five. Although this is a middle of the table clash this weekend, for me the deciding factor in this game is the for and against records of both clubs. Only one competition point separates City and Coota while City enjoy a 59 point points differential against Coota’s 9 point points differential. Looking at past results, both teams had similar games against Aggies with City losing 29-8 and Coota losing 40-7 so nothing to split them on there. This game could go either way, both forward packs will be reasonably evenly match, City may have the edge in the backs. Look out for Alex Hardie who is in good form for Coota.
