North Tamworth Bears will kick off their huge Whitehaven Coal Group 4 First Grade clash with Moree Boars at Boughton Oval on Saturday without three of last week’s side.
The Bears suffered more than a loss at Boggabri last week with fullback Lynken Dickson, backrower Jake Vost and hooker Liam Ball all injured.
“We’ve moved Bruce (Senirusi Raque) to fullback and Caleb Bergan to hooker,” Bears coach Paul Boyce said.
Keiran Fisher and Shaq Ervine both come onto the bench for us.
“It’s a good squad, I’m happy with the squad we’ve got. I would have liked to have those three in but we’ve got a good side against a real good Moree side. I’m confident our boys can do the job. It’s not an ideal time to get injuries and a tough test at Moree who have been in pretty red hot form.”
He believes the Boars might be starting to think about Clayton Cups after completing the first round undefeated.
“So we’ve got our work ahead of us.
“It’s always a tough place to go regardless and we might be in a better state this time around.”
Moree beat Norths at North Tamworth in the first round.
“We had five out in that game,” Boyce said.
“We’ve got three out this time around.
“We’ve just go there and play our footie.
“I think we can improve on what we did in the first round. They got the jump on us in that. We certainly want to give a better showing. I’m confident we can do the job out there.”
Sunday Games
Meanwhile, Kootingal Roosters head to Wee Waa on Sunday knowing they cannot make any sort of slip up.
The Roosters sit second on the Whitehaven Coal Group 4 First Grade table, five points behind of unbeaten Moree but equal on points with North Tamworth (ahead on for and against) and just a point ahead of equal fourth-placed Boggabri and Werris Creek.
“We’ve got to keep winning,” Kootingal coach Mark Sheppard said.
“We’re still second but if we drop a game we could drop out of the four.”
So his side won’t be taking Wee Waa lightly and they will welcome young Patty Hoffman for his third game.
“They’ve been pretty switched on at training this week, been focused on this, he said of a side which will be without Jordan Sharpe.
“Jordan is out, so Patty comes into the side,” Sheppard said.
“He made his debut against Boggabri in the first round and played again last week. He’s been going real good in reserve grade too,” he said of the backrower.
Sheppard is also looking to his “back five” to create plenty of opportunities.
“Liam (Hatch), McKay (Davis- Tucknott), Billy (Nean), Dyl (Clarke) and Jack (Rumsby). I’m hoping they can shine.
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