First-placed Collegians and last year’s minor premiers, the Thirroul Butchers, headline the weekend’s Round 3 fixtures in the Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup this Saturday.
Collegians are the only team to have won both matches this season, with victories over Corrimal and Dapto, with a late intercept try to winger Jay Watling securing an important win over the Canaries.
Lock Jarrod Thompson says that their Round 2 win was physically and mentally satisfying for the team.
“It was definitely very taxing on the body and the mind, but I think we had the belief within the team. It was a real credit to everyone who was able to dig in and get the win,” Jarrod says.
The match will be the first time the teams have met since last year’s elimination final, as well as being Collies first home game of the year.
“We know what Thirroul are like. They’re always tough. They’ve got us so many times in different scenarios, so you can never underestimate them. We’re ready for a tough contest because we know it’s coming for us.”
Butchers looking to improve
Thirroul is fourth after their opening two games, getting on the board with a win over Corrimal in their last start after a first up loss to De La Salle. Captain Hayden Crosland says they were glad to have picked up the two points in this clash but still have areas to improve as they prepare to line up against last year’s premiers.
“Our completions are something we’re really going to focus on. There’s tough games every week this year, so we can’t afford to drop any games in these next three weeks, or we might be battling for that fourth or fifth spot when we want to be battling for first,” Hayden says.
Crosland has switched from the backs to the forwards this season and is also in his first year as skipper of the Club.
“With the side we’ve got, it’s an easy job. I can rely on the other blokes to step up and talk when they need to, and I can just chime in whenever.
“I’m really enjoying it, and I’m really proud to be captain as well.”
Round 3 Fixtures [All Grades] >>Local footy returns
Around the grounds
In the other Mojo Homes matches for the round, Dapto will host De La Salle while Corrimal takes on Wests at Ziem’s Park. Both home teams are yet to record a win this season and will be fighting hard, while De La and the Devils will look to retain their form in the lead-up to next weekend’s Magic Round at WIN Stadium.
Read More>>Six teams, Three games, One Magic Round
Collies will also take on the Butchers in the First Division competition, with Thirroul in search of their first win after a narrow 10-6 loss to Corrimal in Round 2. Wests will look to make it three wins on the trot when they play the Cougars, while Dapto takes on Helensburgh on the Canaries home turf.
In the Harrigan Shield, defending premiers Northern Suburbs will take on the Figtree Crushers, Berkeley will host Corrimal, while Avondale travels to Windang chasing their third consecutive win after a hot start to the season.
On Sunday, Corrimal will do battle with Nowra-Bomaderry in the Southern Corridor Open Women’s Tackle Competition, while Mount Kembla will look for their first win when they take on Shellharbour at home.
Read More>>South32 Women and Girls Round 2 Wrap
