GRETA Branxton Colts return to Denman Oval tonight minus half a dozen key players but determined to overcome that adversity on a ground where it lost last year’s A Plus Contracting Group 21 grand final.
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Despite that loss, Colts coach Ron Griffiths has mostly good feelings when he makes the trip up the valley to the Devils’ home.
It’s far from hell, he said.
“Every time we’ve been there, apart from the grand final, we’ve had a fair bit of success,” Griffiths said.
“The trip doesn’t seem to bother us.
“And the ground is conducive to good football.
“The atmosphere is good because you’re so close and it makes for a vocal crowd.”
What is causing Griffiths concern is the fact he has some key personnel missing.
“We’ve got two front-rowers – Brendon Neal and Ben Murray – both out.
“Joseph Griffiths and backrower Colin Walker are also unavailable .
“Winger Michael Rinkin is also out but maybe one of the most important losses is our quiet achiever, Mitchell Bird.
“He does alot of our defensive work around the ruck, cleaning up.”
The lock, younger brother of State of Origin star Greg Bird, plays like his brother, Griffiths said.
“He does a huge amount of work for us in the middle.
“It’s unfortunate to have all those boys out.”
Sometimes out of adversity comes a steely resolve and a glowing success.
Griffiths hopes that might be the case tonight in a game that could secure his side second spot on the first grade ladder.
“And it could give us an outside chance of winning the club championship,” Griffiths said.
“We’d need a few things to go our way though.
“Scone would have to lose a few of its lower grade games but we are still a chance of scraping in that club championship.”
While Greta and Denman join battle tonight (5.15pm kickoff), Muswellbrook heads to Aberdeen tomorrow and unbeaten Scone goes to Singleton.
TABLE: Scone 24, Greta 17, Denman 13, Muswellbrook 11, Singleton 4, Aberdeen 1.
