Glen Innes Magpies travel to Guyra’s Red Hill on Sunday as the Group 19 rugby league competition enters the final round.
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The Magpies have won both home encounters with Guyra but the Super Spuds hammered Glen Innes in round 2 at Guyra.
Magpies coach Arthur Latham will be hoping for much greater commitment from his charges this Sunday as the 2001 cellar dwellers face the prospect of putting together several wins in the last round to win a semi-final place.
Last Sunday Glen was beaten 46-10 at Armidale in their deferred match against the Greens. The biggest concern from the loss was that no less than six players were forced to back up from the reserve grade match. Key senior grade players Latham, Mike Goard, David Burgis, Chris Elvins plus runaway prop Shane Jorgenson all took part in the lower grade match before running out for the main match.
Hard working lock Darren Taylor scored Glen’s first half try while
19-year-old halfback David Burgis crossed for a brilliant four pointer in the second stanza.
Latham’s effort was again inspirational. For the second week running he followed a totally committed effort in reserves with another full-on effort in A grade – leading from the front is the only way of playing football Latham knows.
Guyra’s halves Steve Kliendienst and Mal Gaukroger have made hay from the sunshine of their forwards’ efforts all season, proving unstoppable in their earlier victory over the Magpies.
Glen will be hoping they can turn that around this week, but they are still without key player Paul Henderson and hard-man Jason Grob is still doubtful following the knee injury he sustained against Inverell.
Burgis’ play in the past couple of matches has been outstanding. His form against Armidale won rave reports with a magnificent try and a flying try-saving tackle standing out in a badly beaten team.
Goard’s work in defence and from dummy half has been a feature of the Magpies’ season alongside Trojan efforts from diminutive lock Darren Taylor and second rower Mick Barrett.
It will take a finish to compare with Bernborough for Glen Innes to qualify for the play-offs in 2001. The next few Sundays are all about personal pride and about finishing off a disappointing season with commitment.
