Game 1: Tamworth Swans v New England Nomads
The Drum was not surpised to see the Swans rolled beside the Hunter last week, and suspects that as the year pans out this form won't look as surprising as it might be to some now. Returning to Number One will be a boost to them this week, but some mail was out through the week that the physical Cats knocked the Swans about and they will have some in doubt for this. The Nomads may have been a little lucky to get away with their second win over the Saints, as the reigning Premiers' accuracy in front of goal hurt them in the end. The early season Drum around the Nomads is looking a little shaky, but the jury is also still out on their opponents in this. The Swans were convincing winners against the Saints earlier this year but seemed to have struggled in their two matches since. Faith persists in the pair of Pearces and that the Nomads will build through the season, but the Swans are suspected as being possibly the League's sleeping giants. They will have to wake soon, or find the last plane to the finals' almost gone, yeah yeah. The Drum is they will nap a little while longer in this.
The Drum: Nomads by six goals.
Game 2: Inverell Saints v Tamworth Kangaroos
The replay of last years Grand Final sees those two combatants in very different possies. The Kangaroos are full of confidence, apparently playing some good footy and deservingly sit atop the League ladder. They will stride north with some swagger. The Saints have not sung a song since the first week of the season, and as a proud Club will not want to concede an inch of Varley Oval turf to their visitors this week. The Kangaroos won a semi-final in the Sapphire City in their Premiership year of 2008, but have found the going a little uphill there since. Will the ghosts there inspire desire or terror for the Rooboys? The Drum is that the Saints are not the force they once were, but taking them lightly should come with a Government health warning. The mobility of the Kangaroos should suit the spaces at Varley, but the Saints know their patch and should have a clear size advantage. The match should be a special one, and in the end The Drum is swayed by a ponderance as to when the Saints last, if e'er, lost three in a row. There will be strong motivation to prevent that.
The Drum: Saints by the shine of their halo.
Game 3: Gunnedah Bulldogs v Muswellbrook Cats
What a month of contrasts for these two. The Cats got their two biggest trips out of the way, sandwiched with a battle against the League favourites, and paid the price on percentages. Didn't they hit back with some last week but? On the other side, the Bulldogs themselves thumped the Swans away from home to open their 2011 account, but have been bashed about a little since. Their two week break will gave them some time to take stock, and their form after a freshen up earlier in the season was tremendous. The Drum sees no shame in losses to the Eagles and Roos neither, so is not prepared to cast the Dogs adrift just yet. The Drum was, though, impressed with the authority in the Cats victory last week. They will look forward to only driving to Gunnedah for this one, and might just be like the just-turned-eighteen-year-old sucking on their first beer. The thirst will be overpowering and they'll be the first in line to the bar in this. This will be a tough match, and no stranger to controversy The Drum is going out on a whisker again.
The Drum: Cats by two goals.
Last Modified on 01/06/2011 23:22