Townsville Bulletin

Old Boys eager to lock in finals

- MICHAEL THOMPSON michael. thompson@ news. com. au

NORTH Ward will be playing to sew up their spot in the upcoming Townsville and Districts Rugby Union finals when they host Burdekin tonight.

The Old Boys are fourth on the TDRU A grade ladder and are likely to play the eliminatio­n semi- final against Burdekin in a fortnight, barring a late charge from Ross River. The Redskins must win their last two games and count on North Ward dropping one to have any chance of sneaking into the top four, although Old Boys skipper Daniel Withers is determined to wrap things up tonight.

“That’s the big incentive, but it will be tough,” he said.

“We lost our first two games against them but then we won the most recent game, so we know we can beat them.

“Then again we’ll have to be at our best, which is always the case if you want to beat Burdekin.”

North Ward beat Burdekin 25- 21 last month in one of the season’s tightest games, and if everything goes to plan for the Old Boys they will be expecting another grinding game come finals.

Withers said tonight’s clash had come at a welcome time.

“It’s going to be a good dress rehearsal for that semi- final, if we get there,” he said.

“Obviously we’ve had a couple of disrupted weeks with players being away, but finals time is getting closer and players are starting to be available.

“We should have a relatively full strength team.”

The Old Boys will also be eager to get a win following last weekend’s 48- 0 loss to Brothers, one of the biggest defeats North Ward has endured this year.

The Brethren will be aiming to maintain their ominous run of form when they host Ross River at Ignatius Park College tomorrow.

Ross River will be firm underdogs, but their unpredicta­ble form could give Brothers a tricky assignment.

Teachers Wests and Charters Towers have the bye because of the season reshuffle done earlier this year.

TDRU ROUND 20 Tonight: 7.15pm North Ward v Burdekin, Mike Carney Toyota Park.

 ?? FRESH FACE: 22- year- old Adam Korczyk is in the mix to make his Wallabies debut against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championsh­ip. ??
FRESH FACE: 22- year- old Adam Korczyk is in the mix to make his Wallabies debut against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championsh­ip.
 ?? North Ward’s Dan Withers. ??
North Ward’s Dan Withers.
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