The Junior Blacks rugby club will be looking to finish their season on a high with three of their teams travelling to Temora for the Southern Inland Junior Rugby grand finals.
The under 10s, under 14s and Viva under 10s, will all make the trip to the Temora Recreation Ground looking to take home the title.
Coach of the under 14s Ashley Gunn was hopeful his side would be able to go one better than they did last season when they take on Temora.
“We finished minor premiers and only lost two of our games all season,” he said.
“In the two games, we played against Temora this year have ended in draws and I am expecting another close game.”
After making it to the grand final last year only to fall at the final hurdle, Gunn is confident his side has made the necessary improvements.
“There skills in and around the ruck area have really improved,” he said.
“We have been really consistent all over the field this year which has been pleasing.”
Gunn feels the area which has put them in this position is they don’t rely on just one person to carry the team.
“The team has a good mix of both 14s and 13s, and they have really come together as a team,” he said.
“We have had injuries in recent weeks, so it has great to see the boys really step up.”
Under 10s coach, Clint Robertson has praised the performance of his ‘tough bunch of kids’.
This weekend the side will take on a tough opponent in Cootamundra who have been the standout team in the last couple of years.
“This year we only played them once this year and went down two tries to one,” he said.
“We have pretty much the same side we had last year, and they are the only team in the competition to beat them in the last two years.”
The side has already seen of some what of a boggy team in the semi final.
“Our boys have come along way loosing to Leeton in their last two meetings to overcome them in the semi finals,” he said.
“It went into extra time, and they learnt that they will have to work for the win this weekend.
“Coota is a big and quick side, but they are not as tough as our boys.”
The girls will also be represented this weekend with the baby Blackbirds under 10s side becoming the first Griffith Viva 7s side to reach a grand final.
Liam Warren
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
As someone with an underlying passion about sport it is a privilege to report on the sporting landscape around the MIA
