GROUP 4 will resume this weekend with a local derby at Scully Park, a match-up at Narrabri’s Collins Park and a chance for Armidale Rams’ redemption at Gunnedah’s Kitchener Park.
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The Armidale Rams joined Group 4 this season and, following several seasons near the top of Group 19, had most thinking that they would be strong contenders in the southern competition until for a variety of different reasons their roster fell apart in the pre-season, leaving them short on both quality and quantity.
The West Lions gave them a 96-point baptism of fire in Armidale in the opening round but now, after a weekend off, the club and competition hope that the Rams can put up a better show and start to bring their side together when they travel to Gunnedah on Sunday.
The Bulldogs are coming off a good 38-20 win over the Diggers in the opening round and, with their second home game in a row, won’t be looking to give the Rams a break in front of a home crowd.
Gunnedah captain coach Trent Hilton was most pleased with his side’s defensive effort in that first game and wants that form to continue, while working on a new attacking structure this season.
“Our defence was really good with everyone involved in the structure,” Hilton said.
“We made a couple of little errors but they are things that are easy to work on at training.”
“That defensive base is a good platform to score points from.”
The Bulldogs should have plenty of points in them, with a new young halves pairing this season following the departures of DJ Smith to Wests and Shannon Swan to Narrabri.
Smith’s younger brother Hayden Smith has stepped up into the role and is a natural ball playing talent whocame through the junior ranks, while former Clayton Cup-winning North Tamworth flyer Callum Hayne has returned home to Gunnedah to take on the role of halfback, and the skipper believes together they form a great combination.
“Hayden is a freak and plays what’s in front of him,” Hilton said.
“Callum is more structured, works hard and bosses the forwards around to guide us around the field.”
Those two playmakers playing off the back of a good pack that includes Greater Northern reps Hilton and Danny Read up front, and fellow Tiger Aaron Donnelly at the back and hooker Dylan Smith are sure to be a dangerous side for any club to face this season.
In Tamworth the Diggers face a battle to secure their first win of the season when they host premiers North Tamworth for one of only three home games the Diggers will enjoy this season on Scully Park, while Narrabri will hope to bounce back from a first-round loss to the Bears when they host the West Lions at Collins Park.
All game will be played on Sunday with first grade kicking off at 2.45pm.
