Oakdale Workers have eliminated neighbours The Oak Tigers from the 2023 Wests Group Macarthur Conference premiership after a dominant performance in the elimination final on Sunday.
The Workers were too good for the Tigers, winning 36-8 at Thirlmere Sports Ground, with second rower Josh Carr bagging a hat-trick of tries.
They will now head to Kirkham Park next Sunday for another elimination final, this time against Thirlmere Roosters.
Thirlmere were outclassed by the premiership contenders from the Southern Highlands, the Mittagong Lions and need to win next week to stay alive in the 2023 race to the big dance.
Former NRL star Bryson Goodwin kicked four from six and scored a try to contribute 12 points to the Mittagong total.
The Lions won 34-10 to set up a grand final qualifier against minor premiers Camden Rams.
This match will also be played at Kirkham as part of a double header, with a 3pm kick off.
The earlier match between the Workers and Roosters will kick off at 1.15pm.
After enjoying a week off, the minor premiers Camden Rams will be in the box seat to be the first side into the 2023 grand final.
However, Mittagong won’t be a pushover, as they have shown time and again during the season.
Whoever loses in that match gets another crack the following week, against the winner of the earlier match between the Workers and Thirlmere.
Here we are tipping for Camden to win this Sunday, but Mittagong to go and win a week later and meet the Rams in the grand final.
Then again, Oakdale Workers have proved us wrong before, so we’ll see.
NEXT WEEK: Kirkham Park, Sunday, September 2
Elimination final: Thirlmere Roosters v Oakdale Workers, 1.15pm.
Major final: Camden Rams v Mittagong Lions 3pm.
RESULTS – SEMI FINALS, WEEK 1:
Elimination final: Oakdale Workers 36 The Oaks Tigers 8;
Qualifying final: Thirlmere Roosters 10 Mittagong Lions 34.
