Strap yourselves in – it’s Finals time in the Harrigan Premiership!
Here’s all the Week 1 Finals fixtures across the grades…Proudly supported by FEEL GOOD…i98!
Harrigan Premiership – Elimination Semi-Final
- Thirroul (3) v Collies (4) | Saturday, 24 August, Gibson Park. Kick-off 3pm.
The Butchers have beaten Collies on two of the three occasions they have met this year, including a resounding 32-point win in their most recent encounter.
Of course, the two sides met in last year’s decider, with the Butchers also getting the victory on that occasion. This time, the stakes are a little different, with the winner advancing to the Prelim Final and the loser heading off on Mad Monday.
Collies haven’t had an ideal preparation for the Finals, with one win from their last four outings, including losses to the other three finals contenders.
Conversely, Thirroul has beaten Corrimal and Dapto on either side of a narrow loss to De La Salle.
Head-to-Head
- Rd2 – Thirroul 22 – Collegians 12
- Rd8 – Collegians 20 – Thirroul 12
- Rd13 – Thirroul 36 – Collegians 4
Harrigan Premiership – Qualifying Semi-Final
- De La Salle (1) v Wests (2) | Sunday, 25 August, Southern Districts Oval. Kick-off 2pm
De La Salle had the early running against Wests with two wins before the Devils got one back in Round 13. The Devils head into the Grand Final qualifier with confidence-boosting wins over Dapto and Collies.
De La got back into the winner’s circle with a two-point win over Collies in a high-scoring affair after their Round 13 loss to Wests. The Shire outfit went on to record wins over Thirroul and Dapto.
Head-to-Head
- Rd2 – De La Salle 40 – Wests 16
- Rd8 – De La Salle 24 – Wests 14
- Rd13 – Wests 34 – De La Salle 6
Harrigan Plate – Elimination Semi-Final
- Thirroul (3) v Avondale Wombats (4) | Saturday, 24 August, Gibson Park. Kick-off 1.30pm
Thirroul will start as favourites in this contest after taking the bragging rights on both occasions the two sides have met this year.
The Butchers have notched up big wins in their last two starts over Helensburgh Tigers and Corrimal after narrow losses to Berkeley and the Tigers.
The Wombats had an ideal start to their first season in the competition, with six wins on the trot before suffering a mid-season slump of four consecutive losses. They won two of their last three games to ensure a finals berth.
Head-to-Head
- Rd10 – Thirroul 26 – Wombats 0
- Rd 4 – Thirroul 20 – Wombats 0
Harrigan Plate – Qualifying Semi-Final
- Wests (1) v Berkeley (2) | Saturday, 24 August, Sid Parrish Park. Kick-off 3pm.
This year, the two best sides in the competition met just once, and Wests were convincing winners by a score of 36-6.
The Devils have won six consecutive matches heading into the finals; their last defeat was 28-16 against the Wombats in Round 9.
Berkeley’s run to the finals has been equally as impressive, undefeated since their loss to Wests.
Head-To-Head
- Rd8 Wests 36 – Berkeley 6
Harrigan Shield – Elimination Semi-Final
- Avondale Wombats (3) v Windang (4) | Saturday, 24 August, Dandaloo Oval. Kick-off 11.45am.
The Wombats have not scored a point in two outings against Windang this season. In their defense, both games were earlier in the season. Since then, they have gone on to record seven wins (including a forfeit) from their last eight starts.
Windang’s season hasn’t exactly gone to plan. The Sharks’ 36-12 win over Berkeley last week was their first since that Round 7 clash with the Wombats, in a season hampered by three washouts and injuries that saw them forfeit their Round 13 clash with Figtree.
Head-to-Head
- Rd1 Windang 20 – Wombats 0
- Rd7 Windang 22 – Wombats 0
Harrigan Shield – Qualifying Semi-Final
- Avondale Greyhounds (1) v Figtree (2) | Saturday, 24 August, Dandaloo Oval. Kick-off 1.30pm
The undefeated Avondale Greyhounds have had a season to remember, scoring 479 for and just 124 points against in their 12 wins, including a 22-point win over their semi-final opponents.
A forfeit from Wests in the final round last week was the only thing halting their end-of-season momentum.
Figtree stumbled last week against a determined Norths outfit, which beat them 6-4. The upset loss followed a forfeit in Round 15 after a 52-0 win over Berkeley the week prior.
Head-to-Head
- R12 Avondale Greyhounds 32 – Figtree Crushers 10
Fixtures By Venue
Saturday, 24th August
Thomas Gibson Park
- 12:00 am | NSWRL Southern Corridor Under 18s – Thirroul (2) vs Wests (3)
- 1:30 pm | Harrigan Plate – Thirroul (3) vs Avondale Wombats (4)
- 3:00 pm | Harrigan Premiership – Thirroul (3) vs Collegians (4)
Sid Parrish Park
- 3:00 pm | Harrigan Plate – Wests (1) vs Berkeley (2)
Dandaloo Oval
- 11:45 am | Harrigan Shield – Avondale Wombats (3) vs Windang (4)
- 1:30 pm | Harrigan Shield – Avondale Greyhounds (1) vs Figtree (2)
Sunday, 25th August
Southern Districts Oval, Sylvania Waters
- 2:00 pm | Harrigan Premiership – De La Salle (1st) vs Wests (2nd)