Game 1 sees the Inverell Saints travel to Tamworth’s No.1 Oval to take on the Tamworth Swans. The Swans were very disappointing last week and will be keen to make amends this week. Winning games is hard enough but losing a home game, and possibly two in a row, is something the Swans will not want on their CV to start 2011. The Saints will need to take a full side to Tamworth or they may not be able to follow up last week’s great win against the Cats. The Cats put up a good fight, and even though the Saints won by 99 points, they still had to earn it. The Swans were expected to give the Premiership a big shake this year, but after last week will just be hoping to get back on track. The Saints will hope that the form of new recruit, Russell Brien, holds after his fantastic 6 goal best on ground debut against the Cats.
Prediction: I know the easy choice is the Saints but I haven’t given up on the Swans just yet. After last week though, the Saints deserve to be given the nod by 21 points.
Game 2 is at the Cattery in Muswellbrook. Unfortunately for them they will be hosting the Tamworth Kangaroos. The Cats played some very good footy last week and their 99 point loss was not a true reflection of their game. The Cats are on the move and are going in the right direction, but it will be awhile yet before they get there. The Kangaroos were the only team to play 2 games in the preseason competition. And what games they were: Round 1 they belted the Swans by 60 points and then they thumped the Bulldogs by 120 points. The Kangaroos were expected to be thereabouts in the Premiership race in 2011, but are now one of the favourites.
Prediction: The Cats losing streak will end in 2011, but not in this game. The Kangaroos by 68 points.
Game 3 will be the match of the round at the Kennel in Gunnedah. Both the Bulldogs and the Narrabri Eagles are coming off good wins and, as this is the local grudge match for these two clubs, I urge people to get down to Wolseley Oval to watch this great game. The Eagles beat the Bulldogs at this venue in Round 1 of the preseason competition by 16 points. The Bulldogs were beaten in the third quarter of that game and fought back big time in the last quarter. After gaining confidence from that game, the Eagles took that into their game against the Nomads last week. After losing the lead in the last quarter to the Nomads, the Eagles were able to dig deep and fight back to win.
Prediction: This is a very hard game to pick a winner in, but as I believe the Eagles won against a better opposition I am tipping them by 13 points.
The New England Nomads have the bye this week, which won’t sit well with them due to their loss last week. It is never easy to go into a bye on the back of a loss.
Note: It appears The Drum is a might bit sensitive. But before he marches on he will have to learn to tap out a winning beat first. Game on Drum come and get me.
Last Modified on 03/05/2011 20:24