THERE’S no doubting how high the stakes are.
For the victor, a berth in the grand final awaits. For the vanquished, it’s curtains for 2014.
Sawtell/Toormina finished the season on top of the ladder but now faces the real prospect of being ousted from the finals race in straight sets after losing last week to the Coffs Swans.
It’s a loss Saints’ playing coach Jim Angel admits they deserved.
“We couldn’t have gone any further away from the game plan than we did last week,” Angel said.
“Everyone wanted to just get in and get the ball and there was a lack of accountability.”
Last week Angel said the plan “all starts at the centre bounce and starts at the contests”.
He said the plan for today’s match will be no different.
“We earned the double chance and hopefully we’ll get to use the ‘get out of jail free’ card.”
Awaiting the Saints at C.ex Coffs International Stadium is Port Macquarie, the team who beat Sawtell/Toormina in last year’s grand final.
The two combatants have met on three previous occasions so far in 2014 with the Saints prevailing quite comfortably each time.
Port Macquarie playing coach Scott Abercrombie has never been one to offer excuses but points out history counts for little this afternoon.
“We haven’t played them at full strength all year,” Abercrombie said.
“We’re a better side now than we were in those matches.”
The Magpies come into the clash in sterling form having won six of their past seven matches.
While Abercrombie admits today’s winner will simply come down to which team plays better on the day, he said recent form has given the reigning premier plenty of confidence.
“We’re happy with our run of form of late,” he said.
“We’re playing the type of football that we want to be playing.
“If it’s good enough against Sawtell, we win and if it’s not, we don’t.”
Photo courtesy of Rob Wright / Coffs Coast Advocate
Last Modified on 15/08/2014 21:33