Just three rounds remain in the Group 16 rugby league competition with teams grabbing a last ditch effort for points.
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The Bega Roosters are in excellent place for finals positions, holding first place in reserves and under 18s, while the league-tag and first grade rosters sit comfortably in the top four.
The Bermagui-Cobargo club will face a tough points chase after being stripped of four competition points and will sit in sixth on the ladder.
Club secretary Dave Allen said the Eels still have a good shot at making the finals, but will need some good results in the final rounds as the club heads to Narooma this Sunday.
The club will be looking to it’s speed to match Narooma’s own pace runners and score from the outside back.
“It should be a good open game with a lot of ball movement like it was in Bermagui,” Allen said.
Allen said there were a few injury niggles, but the club mostly had a full roster to draw from.
Unfortunately Candelo-Bemboka is all but out of the points hunt in seventh place.
The Roosters will be in for one of the biggest draws in the season as they head to Moruya this Sunday to face the ladder-leading Sharks in four grades.
James Scott’s under 18s will look for a big start despite some injury concerns after a resolute defence to hold off the Bulldogs last weekend.
Scott said he would be looking for a repeat defensive effort with Nathan Curtis key to controlling the game, while Jarryd Finnerty, Toby Willington and James Grant will push forward.
Ray Ringland’s league-tag Chicks are coming off just their second loss of the season and will be eager to return to the winners’ circle.
Ringland said he will be focused on patience with the ball.
“We missed some tags by not moving up to meet the attack on a couple of occasions and we want to be pressuring our opponents Sunday to get some good field position,” he said.
Reserves and first grade will offer up top-of-the-table clashes in what is expected to be explosive football.
The Sharks suffered a shock loss to the Eels last week, and will face seasoned campaigners in Wayne Northey’s reserve grade roster. Northey said Steve Fuller is hungry for more tries "so we’ll be going up there to give the Sharks a real run for their money”.
First grade coach Kane Morgan said he’ll be looking for improvement in ball security and marker defence from his charges.
“Moruya’s number nine is a master at catching out lazy markers and slow into position forwards,” Morgan said. The club will also be looking to shut down Aaron Brierley and Jake Clarke.