Crane Oval at Narellan will host an all day festival of rugby league on Sunday as the business end of the 2016 season kicks off this weekend.
The first match will start from 9am when the Appin Dogs take on Warragamba Wombats in the second division qualifying final.
After match ups in the under 18s and in the Ladies League Tag competitions, it will be on to the big boys of local rugby league with two exciting clashes in first grade.
The home side, the Narellan Jets will host the Oaks Tigers at 1.15pm in an elimination semi final in what should be a cracker game of rugby league.
In the other first grade clash, a qualifying semi final, the Camden Rams will square off with the Thirlmere Roosters at 3pm.
Watching from the sidelines will be the minor premiers, Picton Magpies, who are eyeing their fourth Group 6 premiership in a row.
The Roosters and the Rams may have other ideas, and who knows, maybe the Jets or the Tigers can surprise everyone by going all the way in 2016.
On the Saturday, Sid Sharpe Oval, Oakdale will be hosting semi finals in the lower grades, including second division, which played its last home and away round last Saturday at Appin Sportsground. As MIKE SHEAN reports, the Robertson Spuddies were too good for the Bargo Bunnies, while in the second clash, Warragamba Wombats brushed aside the Narellan Jets.
Robertson secured the Second Division minor premiership after a second half romp over Bargo.
The Spuddies, who beat the Bunnies 52-12, were leading just 14-12 at the interval.
Doug Tilley opened the scoring after three minutes for Robertson and Mitch Wright, who ended with four tries on the day, scored two in the space of seven minutes, extending the lead to 14-0 after 20 minutes.
Bargo fought back and scored two well constructed tries through Jordan Timu and Zac Wilson.
Robertson scored early in the second half, before Wright, who terrorised the Bargo right side defence, bagged his second half double, and fourth try for the match.
Wright’s winger Zac Cupitt decided to get in on the action, with the final four tries of the match over a 14 minute period sealing the comprehensive win over the Bunnies.
Robertson now have a week off while they wait to see whether they will face Appin or Warragamba in the major semi final in two weeks.
The second match on the day saw Warragamba meet Narellan, with the vital third spot on the ladder up for grabs.
Warragamba took control early with two tries inside the opening 11 minutes, giving it a 12-0 lead.
Narellan hit back with two unconverted tries late in the half.
The teams went to the break with the Wombats leading 16-8.
Kurt Pinney cut the lead even further early in the second half when he scored Narellan’s third try of the day.
But Warragamba regained the momentum and ran away with the match, 32-12.
RESULTS – Second Division:
Moss Vale Dragons 30 Mt Annan Knights 0;
Bargo Bunnies 12 Robertson Spuddies 52;
Warragamba Wombats 32 Narellan Jets 12;
Appin Dogs 30 Picton Magpies 0.
LADDER – FINAL: Robertson 32; Appin 24; Warragamba 21; Narellan 19; Moss Vale, Picton 16; Bargo 8; Mt Annan 6
WEEK ONE FINALS, SATURDAY – SID SHARPE OVAL, OAKDALE
• 12.15pm second division elimination semi – Narellan Jets vs Moss Vale Dragons;
• 2pm under 18 elimination semi – Narellan Jets vs Mittagong Lions;
• 3.30pm League Tag elimination semi – Mt Annan Barbarians vs The Oaks Tigers;
• 4.30pm reserve grade elimination semi – Narellan Jets vs Camden Rams;
• 6pm reserve grade qualifying semi – The Oaks Tigers vs Campbelltown City Kangaroos.
SUNDAY – CRANE OVAL, NARELLAN
• 9am second division qualifying semi – Appin Dogs vs Warragamba Wombats;
• 10.45am under 18 qualifying semi – Thirlmere Roosters vs Appin Dogs;
• 12.15pm League Tag qualifying semi – Campbelltown City Kangaroos vs Thirlmere Roosters;
• 1.15pm first grade elimination semi – The Oaks Tigers vs Narellan Jets;
• 3pm first grade qualifying semi – Camden Rams vs Thirlmere Roosters.
• Group 6 League Live will be broadcasting matches on both days, including both first grade matches.
