The difficult decision to forfeit Saturday’s under 18s final has been made by the combined Bermagui-Cobargo-Eden team.
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Bermagui-Cobargo secretary Dave Allen said under the rules players had to fulfill any under 16s commitments before playing up a grade and a number of players would therefore be unavailable for the nominated Saturday timeslot.
The club had appealed to play both under 18s finals on Sunday, but the request didn’t work for Cooma and the executive went ahead with the proposed Saturday timeslot.
“We are unfortunately unable to field an under 18s side for the semi-final against Cooma on Saturday,” Allen alerted the group in an e-mail on Thursday morning.
However, the club will still play finals football with hopes resting on the Bermagui-Cobargo Eels reserve grade that will face the Narooma Devils.
The clubs have met twice this year and sit at one apiece.
In round five, the Eels thumped home with a straight-forward 16-0 win, but in round 12 it was a much closer battle.
The Devils came away from that one with a four-point margin 32-28.
The two sides are evenly matched in recent form, and playstyle with smaller packs but a punch of speed and skill from talented back row players.
Allen said the reserves will be back at full strength this weekend and will be eager to shutdown the Devils as both teams face elimination.
The Eels will meet the Devils at the Cooma Showground at 2.30pm on Saturday.