#SIRU2018 GF Preview:
Waratahs v Ag College – 1st Grade Grand Final
3:15pm Kickoff @ Conolly Oark #1. Referee – S Donelan
Check the GAGR front page (link above)
CSU v Griffith – Women’s Grand Final
2:15pm Kickoff @ Conolly Park #1. Referee – J Martel
Griffith rolled past Waratahs last week to book their spot into the GF, whereas Reddies had done enough in previous weeks to book their ticket. From what my scouts tell me, this match will be defined by the match up between the form team of the season (Griffith – Minor Premiers) vs the form team of the finals (Reddies – 2017 Runners Up).
Reddies are no stranger to finals football and will no doubt be driven by a heartbreaking loss in extra time last year, interestingly Ua Ravu was playing for the Dianas in that game, will her experience lend Griffith the edge they need?
Keep an eye on – Biola Dawe and Britney Bedford (CSU) and Ua Ravu and Lele Katoa (Griffith)
Waratahs v Wagga City – 2nd Grade Grand Final
12:35pm Kickoff @ Conolly Park #1. Referee – B Reynolds
Punters could be excused for thinking this is a 1st Grade game in this match up, such is the experience across both teams. There’s enough experience and talent in these two teams to give most of the 1st XV’s in SIRU a shake!
Wagga City broke Waratah’s hearts last season after the siren on Grand Final day and I reckon they’re going to have to work pretty hard to get a similar result this year. Waratahs haven’t really been challenged in 2nds this season but that’s not always a positive coming into a GF in 2’s is it?
Waratahs probably have the edge in the tight five, City in the backrow, even stevens through the playmakers. I’d give Waratahs an edge in the outside backs though. For me, this match will be decided by the team who controls the half-five eight combination the best as it’s likely to be wet in this game and decision making could prove the difference.
Keep an eye out for – Tony Ritchie, Morgan Jones and Justin Shortis (Waratahs)
and Josh Crockett, Rambo Lagaali and Aaron Hand (City)
Hay v Waratahs – 3rd Grade Grand Final
11:05am Kickoff @ Conolly Park #1. Referee – T Adamson
Hay are out to make amends for their slip up in the preliminary final in 2017 but will be wary of their Waratahs counterparts here.
The 3rd Grade Match last week between Deni and Waratahs got off to a cracking start with both teams throwing the ball around from side to side, once they settled down though, the game became a little more structured.
Waratahs have got a pretty experienced team across the board in this game and will be looking to draw on that experience at key times in this match. While Hay have probably got a younger, fitter team with a sprinkling of experience, they aren’t strangers to finals footy and have an impressive record of being there when it counts at the pointy end of the season.
Expect to see a rolling game plan from Hay, strong defence from both teams and Waratahs keen to play on the fringes of the field.
Keep an eye out for – Manning Doughty, Tom Lilburne and Bill Nadin (Hay) and Tim King, Ritchie Lamont and the evergreen Matt “Premiership” Hannaford (Waratahs)