The South West Rocks Marlins’ season will be on the line when they clash with the Beachwood Shamrocks in their Hastings rugby league elimination semi-final this weekend.
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The Marlins are coming off a 56-6 flogging at the hands of Kendall, but club vice president Geoff Ball said the team would quickly brush that result aside.
“Basically we had a month without a game due to forfeits and a bye, so the boys just weren't mentally prepared,” Ball said.
Ball said that finally getting some game time was a bonus for the players.
“A run will have done them good though,” he said.
The Marlins finished fourth this year, a pleasing result said Ball, considering the exodus of senior players who left last year after the club’s premiership win.
The Marlins will look to keep quiet a sharp Shamrock backrow, according to Ball.
“We’ll be looking to nullify their backrow and pressure their halves.”
He nominated representative centres Chris Carr and Reuben Dufty as potential match-winners for the Marlins.
“We’ll need their strike out wide,” he said.
The Comboyne Tigers are minor premiers for the 2016 season, proving too good for the opposition throughout the year and finishing comfortably at the top of the competition ladder.
Kendall Blues and Lower Macleay Magpies were next on the ladder following by South West Rocks and the Beechwood Shamrocks.
All semi finals will be played at the Lank Bain Sporting Complex this weekend. The winner of the Rocks and Shamrocks clash will progress to the next round while the loser will start Mad Monday planning.
In the major preliminary semi final, the Blues and Magpies will battle it out with the winner moving to the major semi final where the Comboyne Tigers await. The loser will then meet the winner of the Rocks and Shamrocks clash.
In the results from round 18 matches, the Lower Macleay Magpies put on a cricket score against the Port Boardriders outfit, scoring 130 points and just leaking eight points.
Not to be outdone, the Long Flat Dragons put the cleaners through the Lake Cathie Raiders winning 92 points to 24.
Round 18 results: Kendall Blues 56 defeated South West Rocks 6; Lower Macleay 130 defeated Boardriders 8; Long Flat 92 defeated Lake Cathie Raiders 24; Beechwood Shamrocks 22 defeated Harrington Hurricanes 16; Comboyne Tigers bye.
