ROUND 2 PREVIEW
Fixture
SENIOR’S
Tathra v Pambula (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 2:30pm
Narooma v Merimbula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 2:30pm
Bermagui v Eden (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 2:30pm
DEVELOPMENT
Tathra v BM Giants (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 1:10pm
Narooma v Merimbula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 11:50am
WOMEN’S
Tathra v BM Giants (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 10:30am- Forfeit
Bega v Pambula (Roy Howard Oval) 12:40pm
Bermagui v Eden (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 1:10pm
Narooma v Merimbula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 1:10pm
Round 2 Preview
Tathra v Pambula
This will be the match of the round with a highly fancied Pambula hoping to break the Sea Eagles winning streak. The Panthers had a host of goal kickers last weekend although will be looking to improve their accuracy this weekend. Tathra got good contributions from Dean Gartside (9 goals) and Louis Coulton (8 goals) on the weekend and will need big performances from the duo this weekend.
Player to Watch: Charlie Shepherd, Saw plenty of the ball in his return to the club last weekend. Wont be provided as much space.
Prediction: Pambula by 30 Points.
Narooma v Merimbula
After a tough loss in week 1 the Diggers will be looking to put up a better fight against the Narooma Lions in round 2. The Diggers look set to get Daniel Worden back into the side which will help the Diggers get first use from Jack Burch’s tap rucking. Burch is set to have his toughest task for the season when he takes on 2016 runner up best & fairest Jordan Lang. Both are great ruckman and able to move around the ground and gather possessions at will. The Lions are full of confidence and will be looking to make it two from two.
Player to Watch: Jeremy Sly, One of the Lions bright youngsters who is highly skilled and knows his way to goal. Prediction: Narooma by 25 Points.
Bermagui v Eden
If the Breakers hope to make the top 4 in 2017 the next two weeks are vital for the club as they come up against Eden this weekend and Merimbula the next. The Breakers fought hard last weekend although a lack of scoreboard pressure cost Bermagui in the end. The Whalers will come to Bermagui hoping to give another good performance this weekend and snatch the 4 points away from home. Eden were 15 point down at 3 quarter time last weekend against Tathra before a 4th quarter fade out and will be hoping the same trend doesn’t occur this weekend.
Player to Watch: Jordan Merkel, Having only played a handful of games for the Whalers, Merkel has shown he is the real deal.
Prediction: Bermagui by 16 Points.
Women’s Grade
After week 1, the Eden Whalers have shown that they are one of the teams to beat having claimed the grand final rematch in emphatic fashion. The Whalers key players in Melissa Mitchell, Carra Sheldon and Tammy Whitford stepped up last weekend and away from home this weekend in Bermagui the Whalers are favorites to make in 2 from 2.
Narooma have also shown that they are for real in 2017. A big win over Bermagui sees the Lions head into week 2 against Merimbula full of confidence. The Diggers started with a loss last weekend against Pambula and will be looking to improve in week 2.
Bega play their first match in the women’s grade this weekend and will be hoping to make a good impression. They come up against a red hot Pambula side who have recruited well in the off season and players in Romy Cook, Madi Whatman and Grace Knox have started the season well.
Tathra will be looking to bounce back against the BM Giants this weekend. The Giants have recruited youth and will be looking to run Tathra ragged. The Sea Eagles have now lost two in a row which included last years final and will be looking to snap that streak this weekend.
Player to Watch: Romy Cook, The best performing Cook sibling in Round 1 bagging a couple of goals and making the difference.
Predictions: Tathra, Eden, Pambula & Narooma.
Development Grade
The Giants take the field for the first time this weekend against the reigning premiers Tathra. This is set to be a taste of what to expect for the Giants in 2017. Their squad will be a mix of old and young and they may find the going tough against the more experienced Sea Eagles.
Narooma host Merimbula and will be confident of a win. The Diggers will still be without key players due to absences in the senior grade although the club will be looking to improve on last weekends form where they were beaten by the Panthers.
Predictions: Tathra & Narooma.
Fixture
UNDER 16’s
Narooma v Merimbula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 10:30am
Bermagui v BM Giants (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 10:30am
UNDER 13’s
Bermagui v BM Giants (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 9:10am
Narooma v Merimbula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 9:10am
Bega v Pambula (Roy Howard Oval) 11:20am
UNDER 11’s
Bermagui v Eden (Dickinson Oval, Bermagui) 11:50am
Bega v Pambula (Roy Howard Oval) 10:00am
Narooma v Merimbula (Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma) 8:00am
Tathra v BM Giants (Lawrence Park, Tathra) 11:50am
Round 2 Preview
Under 16’s
Bermagui take on the first game Giants at home this weekend. The Breakers fought valiantly in last weekends loss against rivals Narooma with Jai Curven being the teams stand out performer. Both teams will want a win early in the season if they are to make finals in 2017.
Merimbula will be looking to bounce back from last weekends loss in the grand rematch against Pambula and will be looking to recapture their form against Narooma. Tyson Mikolic and Jackson Taylor, Narooma’s top age players will be looking to play well to combat the likes of Jed Martyn and Caleb Higgins for Merimbula.
Player to Watch: Harrison Bromwich (Narooma) Narooma’s young gun.
Predictions: Merimbula & Bermagui.
Under 13’s
After claiming a narrow win last week against rivals Pambula, Merimbula will be looking for an easier time against Narooma in round 2. Toby Fryers was impressive for the Diggers in round 1and will be looking to do so again. The Lions were convincingly beaten in round 1 and will need the likes of Kurtis Carlson and Ruben Colom-Davis to have big games.
Bermagui were convincing in their premiership defence last week against the Lions and the club will be looking to make it two in a row against the Giants who will be big improvers in 2017 with the elevation of some quality under 11’s in Morris Absolon, Luca Brogon and Samuel Wise.
In the final match Bega open their campaign against Pambula. Pambula were unlucky last weekend against the Diggers going down by a point and a win against Bega will get them back in premiership talk. The Bombers will be hoping they are 1 from 1 after the weekend with their first game at their new home ground.
Player to Watch: Matthew Parker, Thumping left foot and has the ability to play any position across the ground. Predictions: Bermagui, Merimbula & Pambula.
Under 11’s
The Whalers claimed win number 1 last weekend against Tathra after going through 2016 without a win. They will be looking for win number 2 although a matchup against reigning premiers Bermagui will be tough.
Bega will get their season off and running this weekend at home and will face a very young Pambula side. If the Bombers are to make the 4 in 2017 these games are must win games.
Last years grand finalists the BM Giants also get their season started this weekend on the road to Tathra. The Sea Eagles now have game 1 nerves out of their system and will be searching for win number 1. The Giants will be a tough opposition with Tasman Simons one of the best in the competition.
The final matchup will be the match of the round with Narooma to host Merimbula. Both sides were impressive last weekend with the Lions taking it up to the Breaker whilst the Diggers had a convincing win against rivals Pambula at home.
Player to Watch: Jai Grant (Eden), kicked 3 in a best on performance in round 1.
Predictions: Bermagui, Giants, Narooma & Bega.
