Armidale Blues were too good for the Walcha Rams in Saturday’s NERU preliminary final, advancing to the Grand Final to square off against Robb College.
The students will be freshened up after a week off and will go into the decider as warm favourites having accounted for the Blues a fortnight ago in the major semifinal. Armidale on the other hand will be feeling every one of the tight eighty minutes against Walcha, with a few injury issues leading into the main game.
Robb will be anxiously monitoring the fitness of skipper and number 8 Angus Archer, who will be fighting the clock to be fit to play after a hand injury in the major semi.
The ability of the Robb forwards to secure possession, especially at scrum time, will be the key to allow them to unleash their devastating outside backs Archie Cudmore and Jack Callanan. Their speed and elusiveness are matched by Blues’ try scoring machine Shuaib Rhodes-Swain and that clash will be worth watching.
However, up front is where it will be won and lost, and Armidale’s wily forward pack, lead by grizzled veterans Pete Cumming and Mick Frost will be seeking to limit the time and space aƯorded to the Green Machine’s backline. They will be hoping to dominate the set piece as they did in the major semi, to give their own backline threats some room to play.
Expect a very hard fought and tight start to the match, before it opens up in the last quarter, with fresh legs and fitness to come to the fore.
The Women’s Grand Final sees a rematch of the major semi with Glen Innes to front up against the Tamworth Magpies. Last time out the Maggies squawked home by a conversion and there’s no reason to believe that the rematch will be any less close. Glen’s Satara Speedy will be one to watch closely as will Tamworth’s Tobi-Lee Clough. This game might come down to the bounce of a ball and should be a cracker.
In the lower grades, Armidale’s Blues will have a full men’s dance card, facing off against Walcha in second grade, and Tamworth in third grade.
Game Details
Gates open at 9:30am
3.00pm Welcome to country and national anthem
3.05pm 1st grade Robb College v Armidale Blues 1.45 pm Women’s 10’s Tamworth v Glen Innes
12.10pm 2nd grade Walcha v Armidale Blues 10.40am 3rd grade Armidale Blues v Tamworth
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