Canberra Raiders Cup Semi Finals Preview
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Queanbeyan Blues (1) v Queanbeyan Kangaroos (2) on Sunday at 3:00pm at Seiffert Oval
Clashes between these two cross-town rivals are always blockbuster clashes but with a spot in the TTM Canberra Raiders Cup Grand Final up for grabs it is sure to be a massive occasion at Seiffert Oval on Sunday afternoon when the Blues and the Kangaroos face each other.
The Blues and the Kangaroos have been the best two sides all year and as such the victor in this local derby will be rewarded with a saloon passage to the Grand Final whilst the other will have to take on the winner of the match between Belconnen United and Tuggeranong.
“Queanbeyan derbies are always a big occasion and no doubt this weekend will be another fiery clash between the two clubs, especially with a spot in the Grand Final up for grabs,” Blues front-rower Mitch Day said.
“We have put together some great performances over the year and winning the minor premiership, which was a great achievement for the club, but semi-final football is a whole other level and it means nothing if we don't give the semi-finals a real crack.
“A win this weekend would provide us with a very valuable week off leading into the Grand Final. A week off to rest up and get everything 100% right and not have to rely on winning a sudden death game for a spot in the Grand Final will be incredibly valuable to us.”
Both sides will admittedly need to lift for the first round of semi-finals, despite both clubs registering victories in the final match of the regular season.
The Blues are coming off a fairly comfortable 42-30 win over the Bushrangers however they were vastly concerned over the 30 points conceded in the second half alone.
Given the strike power and big match experience that the Kangaroos possess, the Blues can ill-afford to take the foot off the accelerator in the second half against last year’s runners up.
“The Roos are a quality side right across the park,” Day said. “Their massive forward pack is a key for them so if we can match it with them it should prove to be a very interesting contest.
“The focus for this week’s semi-final has been on our own performance. If we can get our preparation and attitude right it should put us in a great position for this weekend’s game against the Roos.”
Meanwhile, Kangaroos Coach Aaron Gorrell was scathing of his side’s performance against the Woden Valley Rams.
Gorrell believes that his side will just be “making up the numbers” in the finals if they continue with the form they displayed against the sixth placed Rams.
While he was never worried that his side would lose the encounter, Gorrell wasn't happy with the effort of his side.
“We made it a lot tougher than it had to be,” Gorrell said. “If we play like that the next couple of weeks, we'll go out the back door. At the moment, the way we played, we're just making up the numbers.”
The Blues and the Kangaroos have won one game each from their two prior matches which should make for a blockbuster clash on Sunday.
Belconnen United Scholars (3) v Tuggeranong Bushrangers (4) on Sunday at 3:00pm at Raiders Belconnen
Belconnen United’s quest to register back-to-back hangs by a thread as they face the most improved side of 2013, Tuggeranong, in a sudden-death semi-final on Sunday afternoon.
Scholars’ Coach John Hawke has admitted that his side, minus Les McIntyre Medalist Brent Crisp, has been a far cry from the Belconnen United outfit that led from start to finish in 2012.
“It was hard to adjust to life without Crispy, he won a few games on his own last year, but we’ve been building our form slowly and the semi-finals are a whole different ball game,” Hawke said.
The focus for Hawke and his side the over the previous two weeks was to secure themselves a home semi-final. This is an especially valuable advantage given the Bushrangers’ strength at home.
“A home final in the first round is something that is very valuable for us,” Hawke said. “We obviously want to go back-to-back this year and a home final will help with that if we turn up with the right attitude.”
A further incentive for the Scholars’ to not relinquish the trophy this year is the fact that it may well be Hawke and Captain Channon McAskill’s last year at the club before they both retire to spend more time with their families.
Both have given tremendous service to their clubs and the competition as a whole and their teammates will be highly motivated to send their respectable pair out winners if they do go through with the decision.
Although they haven’t been at their best this season, Belconnen United still have the talent and big-match experience to have a shot at the title.
Meanwhile for Tuggeranong, after coming second last in 2012 the Bushrangers are unlikely to be content with just making the first round of the semi-finals, they wish to go all the way.
The Bushrangers possess some of the competitions most dangerous attacking players in fullback Michael Brophy and halfback Carl Johnson, both of whom represented CRRL in the Country Championships earlier this year.
While the aforementioned pair will no doubt trouble the Scholars’ defensive structure with their unpredictability, speed and footwork, ultimately the Bushrangers’ forwards will need to aim up against Belconnen United’s renowned pack of forwards led by CRRL representatives Tsai Tui and Aiden Greenwood.
Belconnen United’s strength lies in their forward pack however if Tuggeranong can match them here it could be anyone’s game.
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