Risdon Cup hopes on line
THIS year’s Risdon Cup title race is headed for a massive collision today when Toowoomba Bears and Dalby put their credentials on the line at Heritage Oval.
Bears and Dalby meet in tonight’s much anticipated qualifying semi-final with a spot in the September 7 grand final awaiting the victor.
Today’s Super Saturday of football also features a Risdon Cup elimination semi where either Goondiwindi or Toowoomba Rangers will bow out of this year’s competition.
I think Bears still deserve the right to be considered competition favourites.
– Dalby coach Peter Smiles
The Bears-Dalby clash shapes as a classic match-up.
Bears dominated the fixture season to finish minor premiers while Dalby has gradually built during 2013 into a premiership force, capped by its 19-13 major semi-final win over Goondiwindi at Riddles Oval last Saturday.
But despite the significance of the Wheatmen’s victory at Goondiwindi, coach Peter Smiles said his team still has to prove itself today against the side he still considers to be premiership favourites.
“We just stuck to our game plan against Gundy and toughed it out for the 80 minutes,” Smiles said.
“We seem to be coming good at the right end of the season and without sounding like we’re bragging we are on a bit of a roll at the moment.
“But you don’t become minor premiers by a fluke and I think Bears still deserve the right to be considered competition favourites.
“I’d like to think we’re in there with a good chance but finals can be a toss of the coin sometimes and we’re going to Heritage tomorrow prepared to hang in there for another 80 minutes.”
Coach Pat Herde is confident Goondiwindi’s backs-to-the-wall battle with Rangers will bring the best out of the Emus as they look to keep their premiership defence alive today.
Goondiwindi is coming off successive tough matches against Bears and Dalby while Rangers advanced last Saturday with a comfortable knock-out win over UQ Highfields.
“Dalby, to their credit, proved too good for us last week, and our boys pulled up pretty sore and battered after the two tough games in a row,” Herde said.
“We still have Alex Corlis out this week and Scott Jackson is away so we’ll be doing a bit of juggling.
“But this team is the best bunch of blokes, and their attitude is always spot on.
“We’re very wary of Rangers but the boys seem to love it when they’re up against it so hopefully that will bring the best out of them again tomorrow.”
Rangers will sweat on the result of a fitness test today on injured playmaker and goal-kicker Tom Crockett as they prepare for their “nothing-to-lose” elimination final assignment.
Crockett has battled through this season with a chronic knee injury as he now looks to shake off a groin problem.
“I’ll have a late fitness test on my groin injury and make a final call from there,” Crockett said.
“We’ll also have Ben Tuesley (centre) away again, but we’re looking at the positives.
“Stu Killen is back for us this week and we’ll have a pretty handy forward pack.
“Gundy is a team who think they can win up front, so we know what to expect from them on Saturday.
“We’ll give it our best shot. We have nothing to lose.”