Weekend Preview

With the grading round upon us this weekend, a number of clubs find themselves already in do or die matches...

In the combined grade 1 and 2 division, West Coffs, Urunga, and Coffs Harbour all find themselves in crunch matches. West Coffs host Park Beach, and if they are to be any chance this season they must find form and find it quick! Already trailing the leaders by 13 points, nothing but a victory will keep West Coffs chances alive. Park Beach will not get a better chance to eliminate one of their rivals and have named a full strength team for the clash.
Urunga find themselves in a similar predicament when they travel to Sawtell. Winless this season so far, the 2010 grade three premiers have been close twice but now need to find themselves on the right side of the big board. Sawtell having suffered their only loss in their last start will be hoping to bounce back and sure up their place as second on the ladder.
Finally Coffs Ex Services wil be looking to keep their momentum going having won two of their last three, when they host Park Beach two's. Written off at the start of the season, they are still in the mix for both the overall and grade two title, but with Sawtell and Park Beach two's above them, another loss will make things very difficult for the Coffs boys. Parky two's will be hoping to keep the pressure firmly on Sawtell with another victory after their impressive defeat of West Coffs in round four.

The match of the round in Grade Three will be Park Beach playing host to Woolgoolga. Both sides are within six points of ladder leaders Nambucca Heads who have the bye this week. Nambucca host Woolgoolga in Grade Four, with both trailing Sawtell by a point after the opening rounds. Of all the flags, this grade appears to be the closest!

Bowraville and Macksville's clash in Grade 5.1 should determine the winner of that section. A 5-1 victory or better to Macksville will guarantee they reach the flag playoff. In Grade 5.2, Bellingen can almost sew up their section with a win over last place Park Beach, while Woolgoolga and Sawtell will battle to keep their respective chances alive going into the final round.

In Grade Six the top three sides play the bottom three sides in what is turning out to be an interesting season for all involved. Whilst in Grade Seven, leaders Nambuca host second placed Woolgoolga in what will be the penultimate round. Although, as Woolgoolga and Bowraville have a game in hand, it is Woolgoolga who has the flag at their mercy...

Good luck to all teams...

Chippy