The Gunnedah Bulldogs have three teams while the Boggabri Kangaroos have two in contention for Group 4 rugby league premiership honours, as the finals series starts this weekend.
In first grade, the second-placed Gunnedah treks to Boughton Oval to contest the top-placed Moree Boars on Saturday to determine which club hosts grand final day.
Moree had a break last weekend while Gunnedah defeated Boggabri 31-10.
Bulldogs coach Sean Hayne said “there’s a lot up for grabs” this Saturday.
In the aftermath of last Saturday’s win, Hayne said, “(A) home grand final, whoever gets that has probably got a great advantage over the opposition, especially when you’ve got a crowd like today turning up to support you. It’s really good.”
The Bulldogs defeated the Boars 28-14 back in round two, before the Boars won the next encounter 30-4 at home in round nine.
“We made a lot of mistakes,” Hayne said of the round nine match.
“They scored some good tries. We’ve improved a bit since then (and) they’ve improved too, so it should be a good contest.”
This Sunday will be do-or-die for the third-placed Werris Creek Magpies and fourth-placed Boggabri, as they face off at David Taylor Oval with the winner to subsequently contest the loser of Moree versus Gunnedah.
The Magpies are coming off a ‘mercy rule’ 60-0 victory against the struggling Kootingal-Moonbi.
Boggabri’s reserve graders are also fighting for survival, as the fourth-placed team contests the third-placed Dungowan at David Taylor Oval on Sunday.
Also in fourth place, the Gunnedah U18s are walking the finals tightrope as they oppose the third-placed North Tamworth; also at David Taylor Oval on Sunday.
After finishing second in the women’s tackle competition, Gunnedah faces the first-placed Boars at Moree on Saturday with a grand final berth on offer.
Saturday will be the first outing for the Bulldogs women since July 27.
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