NORTH and South will clash on Saturday at Ken Chillingworth Oval as the best of the best of the Northern Inland Premier League go head to head to farewell the season.
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The Wests Entertainment Group Southern Conference Stars should be brimming with confidence, as five of them are coming off back-to-back premierships with Oxley Vale Attunga.
Goalkeeper Troy Kete, Cameron Skewes, Chris Fenton, Luke Purcell and Adam Watson were all part of the Mushroom’s victory over North Companions in the final a few weeks ago, and will form the spine of the southern side.
Will Kam was on the other side of the grand final, and brings plenty to the middle of the Southern All Stars side as well.
Tamworth FC is represented by five as well after Namoi’s Shane Soutter withdrew and Englishmen William Webb stepped in to replace him.
Webb will stand alongside fellow Tamworth FC players Mathew Gardner, Ross Price, Tim Smith and Michael Roberts, while for three Gunnedah players their rollercoaster season will finish with another big game.
Michael Cooke, Andy Cygan and Sam Hos will be keen for a victory after Gunnedah’s good run into the finals was ended by East Armidale in the second week.
Moree’s Adam Ha and Matthew Urquhart round out a side that should head in favourites after winning the same fixture last year and the southern conference dominating the finals this season.
Co-coach Tim Coates is expecting a high scoring and entertaining game for a few different reasons.
“We have got a very strong forward line, especially with the addition of Billy Webb,” Coates said.
“Neither side has anything to lose and both sides can score goals from anywhere on the field.”
“We want to win but we also want to enjoy ourselves and it is a great way to finish off the season.”
“I hope for their sake that the Northern Stars have a good defensive line.”
Coates said picking the All Stars side was a difficult task, but is looking forward to coaching some of the talent from other clubs.
“We almost could have picked two sides,” Coates said.
“There is some exceptional talent in the other clubs.”
“Players and coaches enjoy the opportunity to work with those players they have been working against all year.”
The NIPL presentation night will follow Saturday’s games, with a Rising Stars fixture for the best up and coming talent also selected form the two conferences to play beforehand, kicking off at 1pm.
It will be the second year that the All Stars fixtures have heralded the end of the season, and after getting such a good response in Armidale last year they are hoping for a big crowd again this year.
“Tamworth can beat the Armidale crowd,” Coates said.
