NORTHERN Inland face an uphill battle in the final round of the Gold Cup as both the U15s and U17s face the ACT on the back of a double last weekend against South Australia.
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It was the U15s first win of the season but also their worst game according to coach Jeff Watt.
“It was great to get a win but I think the boys must have got a sniff and lost the plot,” Watt said.
“We made some dreadful mistakes and will be looking to improve on that performance this weekend.”
Northern Inland scored two early tries before they lost direction and let SA back in the game to be locked at two tries each at the break.
Both sides were better in the second half, and until the last 10 minutes were in an arm wrestle for possession, although the game was played in the visitors half.
With 10 minutes left on the clock Northern Inland crossed twice in quick succession and held on for their premier victory.
“In the end it was great that we got a win but we actually played much better in the games we lost.
Zane Salmon was one of the best on field playing at halfback and finishing the game at fly half. “He controlled the game well,” Watt said.
Gunnedah’s Ben Hamperson and TAS boy Dan Lethbridge also stood out at openside and number eight as the boys finally won the breakdown battle.
The U17s weren’t any more impressive.
“They were just as bad as us,” Watt said.
The U17s were out looking for their second win of the season, and also got it, but only after scoring 14 points in the last four minutes.
South Australia led into the break and looked like notching up their first win until Northern Inland pulled off the miraculous quick double to finish their season way ahead of where they were this time last year in the premier year of the competition.
Both sides will be up against it this weekend as favourites ACT come to visit.
“They are just in another class apparently,” Watt said.
“They dusted up the city sides that dusted us up.”
“As long as we show improvement and consolidate on what we have learned already we will be happy.”
The games mark the end of the program for another year as the players return to their individual clubs for pre-season.
The match will be played on Backfield at TAS with the U15s at 10.30am and the U17s at midday with a presentation to follow.
