SUPER Saturday is about to explode across the four Greater Northern rugby league competitions as they all begin run-ins to semi-finals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Group 19 has four games in Goondiwindi, Armidale, Tingha and Uralla tomorrow headlined by the big clash at Armidale Rugby League Park between competition leaders Moree Boomerangs and Armidale Rams.
The Rams are equal fourth with Moree Boars, just one point behind Inverell Hawks but just a win ahead of Goondiwindi Boars.
The Clarrie Moran captain-coached Rams beat the Boomerangs in Moree in the first round too, the only loss the reigning premiers have suffered so far this season.
If their clash isn’t big enough, there is also a Boars’ border battle between the Goondiwindi Boars and Moree Boars at Gilbert Oval, Goondiwindi tomorrow.
The Moree Boars will go into the match without one of their stars, centre Ben Williams, after clawing their way into the top four (on percentages) for the first time this season.
Goondiwindi is just a win away though, with Inverell Hawks also in touch for the Goondi Boars.
The Hawks wasted a great opportunity last week when the Rams scored two late tries to draw their clash at Varley Oval.
Peter Stevens and his Hawks match up against Tingha in a giant local derby at Tingha tomorrow while Glen Innes Magpies go to Uralla to tackle the young and fast Tigers.
Down south, the Denman Devils face a major test at home against Greta Branxton Colts tomorrow evening.
Without Greater Northern star Ben Hagan, the Devils have disappointed in recent weeks.
Last year they beat the Colts at Denman Oval to win the Group 21 first grade grand final.
Their grand final might have come a little early this year, with the Muswellbrook Rams in rampaging form under Josh Pearsol.
The Rams can join Denman on 13 points and in equal third if they beat Aberdeen in Sunday’s clash at McKinnon Field.
At stake is a home minor semi-final for the Rams and Devils, while the Scone juggernaut rolls on at Singleton where the Greyhounds might have rediscovered a bit of their dogged fighting spirit.
The Russell Richards-coached Greyhounds kept the Colts scoreless in the second half last week and can present a tough hurdle for the Thoroughbreds if they reprise that form.
Aberdeen captain-coach Daniel Hoogerwerf is confident his side can upset the Rams at home on the Rise For Alex (McKinnon) weekend.
It would be a timely performance for the Tigers for their former junior who is recovering from his tragic spinal injury.