MOREE and Boggabri are preparing for huge Whitehaven Coal Group Finals.
Boughton Oval, Moree will be in first-class condition for Saturday’s major semi- final between the Moree Boars and Werris Creek Magpies.
At Boggabri on Sunday, it’s a similar condition for the local Kangaroos, who will host the Whitehaven Coal minor semi-finals.
Moree’s Boughton Oval is in great nick on what Moree Boars club president Todd Mitchell said will be a fast surface.
“It’s a huge day for our club,” Mitchell said of a club that finished with Minor Premierships in first and second grade.
“We should have a full squad and the boys trained well during the week.”
The Boars have named super strong sides in both grades against Werris Creek (first-grade) and Dungowan (second-grade).
Meanwhile, it’s the first time in nearly 60 years the Boggabri Roos have held a Group 4 “First Division” Semi-Final.
Club president Greg Haire said the club is prepared for a “huge day”.
Boggabri last staged a “first division” final in 1963-64 when winning successive premierships under coach Paul Hassab.
“We did win three premierships. 1980 and then 1992-93. Had a pretty good side,” Haire said.
“This is the first time since 63-64 we’ve been in a first division semi. They came from fourth, too, to win.”
Moree Boars club president, Todd Mitchell (Image Copyright).
Boggabri finished third in the first-grade competition and will have a good ground surface for all sides.
“The oval (Jubilee) looks great totally different to last week (Moree’s 38-32 win over Boggabri),” Haire said.
Werris Creek go into the weekend as Club Champions and with all four sides in contention for major premierships.
They won the Club Championship crown last week when first-grade beat Norths to snatch the title from the Bears as well as kicking the reigning premiers out of the premiership race for the first time in 20-odd years.
Club president Darby Sherlock said the Magpies have first-grade and under-18s in major semi-finals on Saturday and second-grade and ladies league tag in minor semi-finals at Boggabri on Sunday.
“It’s a great result for our little club,” Sherlock said.
“To be club champions is great. Everyone down here puts everything into the club.”
He said support from the community was outstanding and hopes the Magpies’ first-grade side can win Saturday’s major semi and earn the Creek a grand-final spot.
“What a day that would be,” Sherlock grinned.
Words: Geoff Newling
Image: Bill Poulos
MAJOR SEMI-FINAL
Saturday, August 24 – Boughton Oval, Moree.
FIRST GRADE TEAMS
MOREE: 1 Lachlan McGrady, 2 Dereik Newman, 3 Alex Barker junior, 4 Mark Pegus, 5 Jake Tighe, 6 Jamie Sampson, 7 Michael Watton (c/c), 8 Chris Vidler, 9 Zac Sampson, 10 Daniel Jobson, 11 Brent McDonald, 12 Brenton Cochrane, 13 Jack Durheim, 14 Cameron Rodgers, 15 Joe Wade, 16 Jack Mitchell, 17 Marshall Barker.
WERRIS CREEK: 1 Ronin Hadden, 2 Josh Boney, 3 Kaidyn Saunders, 4 Harlee Millgate, 5 Nathanael Slater, 6 Nash Porter, 7 Mitch Doring, 8 Thomas Brown, 9 Dylan Porter, 10 Beau Parry, 11 Riley Leonard, 12 Cody Tickle, 13 Nate Follington, 14 Wes Riley, 15 Mitchell Cox, 16 Nathan Vaisey, 17 Charlie Parsons. Coach – Dave Stewart.
First Grade: Moree v Werris Creek (3pm kick-off). Second Grade: Moree v Dungowan (1.25pm kick-off).
Under-18s: Dungowan v Werris Creek (12-noon kick-off).
Ladies League Tag: North Tamworth v Kootingal (10.45am kick-off).
MINOR SEMI-FINAL
Sunday, August 25 – Jubilee Oval, Boggabri.
FIRST GRADE TEAMS
BOGGABRI: 1 Ash White, 2 Josefa Goneduadua, 3 Pita Rogasau, 4 Robert Doolan, 5 Tommy Bruce, 6 Isaiah Adams, 7 Andrew Wallace, 8 Nic Millar, 9 Matt Gillham (capt), 10 Jake Byrnes, 11 Aaron Hobden, 12 Aliasa Kalokalodrau, 13 Jack Gillham, 14 Jack Hayes, 15 Josefa Biu, 16 Jay Urquhart, 17 Apeli Vulaserau. Coach – Shane Rampling.
KOOTINGAL: 1 Jack Rumsby, 2 Esava Nadalo, 3 Liam Hatch, 4 Billy Nean, 5 McKye Davis-Tucknott, 6 Brayden Jerrard, 7 Jordan Sharpe, 8 Archie Thistle, 9 Anders Glew, 10 Adam Murphy, 11 Jasper Thistle, 12 Logan Howard (capt), 13 Johnny Seabrook, 14 Ben Williams, 15 Kyle Cochrane, 16 Rhys Davis, 17 Dylan Clarke. Coach – Mark Sheppard.
First Grade: Boggabri v Kootingal (3pm kick-off).
Second Grade: Werris Creek v Gunnedah (1.25pm kick-off).
Under-18s: Kootingal v North Tamworth (12 Noon kick-off).
Ladies League Tag: Werris Creek v Dungowan (10,45am kick-off).
