South Coast out for Revenge

The North Cost representative side head south to Nowra this weekend to defend their regional title against the South Coast.

The two leagues last met in 2009 at BCU Stadium where the local side kicked away in the last quarter in an entertaining and competitive contest. The travel is certainly going to be a factor and North Coast is taking a fairly inexperienced line up. Peter Chadwick is once again coach of the team and had this to say about the side. " I am hoping for dry weather because our side is fairly tall. We have a light run planned at Nowra Showgrounds on Saturday at 5.30pm to shake off the travel stiffness and get the guys from opposing clubs to bond at bit. It’s a big ask to take such an inexperienced side all that way but I know the guys will give a great contest"

Chadwick was upbeat about the sides’ chances especially the hardness of his Sawtell forwards Elliott Schmidt, Trent Baade and Jimmy Angel. "Elliott is a great competitor and with Jim will keep the ball in the forward line when it goes in". Grafton brothers Will and Justin Darby will be key defenders along with teammate Ryan Sheather who is in career best form. Levi Sands, Kurt Connelly and Shannon McDonald make their debut from North Coffs while the Coffs Swans provide the experienced Tristan Snow and Peter Robinson.

Brilliant Port Macquarie forward Jessie Schmidt always performs in these big games and is joined by teammates and up and coming stars Kyle Lynch, Matt Gallagher and Alex Gillman.

AROUND THE TRAPS 

Local champion Mark Couzens long awaited return to the Sawtell/Toormina seniors had another twist when he found out after the game that an ankle injury was worse that first expected and he is in plaster and off work.

Grafton were certainly shaken into action following their defeat by Sawtell and absolutely hammered poor old North Coffs by a whopping 163 points. That would have to be close to their biggest winning margin ever over the Kangas.

Silky skilled baby Swans Jack Mapleson and Jake Brown can still play U14 and kicked 10 goals between them in the U18 last week. Watch out for these two when they grow up! Look mum.