Kempsey Saints mates put friendship aside for top of the table clash

Friendships will be put to the test when the two Saints Women’s sides meet on Saturday with the winner taking a step towards earning the minor premiership.

Amy O’Brien’s undefeated Green team sits on the top of the table with 27 competition points while Abigael Baker’s White side is two points back in second place.

The two coaches admit it is hard to be competitive on the field against each other but with a lot riding on the game, they won’t be holding back.

“We didn’t take it too seriously when we met earlier in the season, there was a lot of giggling and mucking around,” O’Brien said.

“This time around we will still have fun out there but we will be giving it everything with the minor premiership on the line.”

Baker finds it hard to believe the current position the two sides sit in near the end of the season.

“We both joked at the beginning of the year about both sides being successful and possibly meeting each other in the grand final but we didn’t realistically think it would happen,” Baker said.

“We made two even sides and it shows we have a lot of talented players.”

Despite facing off against each other, the two sides went through their usual routine of training together.

“We combine our training sessions and we always finish with a quick game between each other,” O’Brien said.

“We wouldn’t be in the positions we are without each other.”

There are four rounds remaining in the regular season before the finals start and the two Saints sides are likely to face off.

However, the Green team will be without their coach O’Brien, who will be overseas travelling for the entire finals series.

Baker will take charge of both teams to finish the year.

The Green team will enter Saturday’s contest with the current bragging rights, having defeated the White side 3-1 in their earlier encounter.

The match at Eden Street kicks off at 12.50pm.