Group 20 rugby league
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LEETON will take its round 15 home game on the road this week, hosting Griffith Black & White Panthers at Barellan Sportsground on Sunday.
However, with a number of former Barellan players and residents associated with the club it is expected the Greens will have plenty of home-crowd support.
The day will acknowledge not only Barellan's rugby league heritage, but also those who have come from both towns and played for either club.
Although big guns PJ Asiata, Kolo Lomu, Ben Evans and Clint Halden will be back this week, Leeton coach Franky Fiumara is likely to again call on the services of some of the under 18s that sparked the side to victory last round.
In particular he will look to Josh Nikoro and Corey Williams, who backed up twice, playing under 18s, reserve grade and running on for first grade last Sunday, to bolster the side again this weekend.
Fiumara was happy to have players back and the juniors to call on against Griffith.
"It is still good because Deano Pauling can play reserve grade and Sam Demarzo is out, then I'll have a 'freshy'," he said.
"Obviously being seventh versus ninth it's going to be a good tussle because we're battling to get good form in. We've got good form at the moment so hopefully that will keep going.
"It's going to be hard, they go alright. I definitely won't take them lightly.
"Black & Whites are unpredictable, you've got to be on your game. You can't rely on a comeback like last week. We've got to shut them out early then finish the game off.
Fiumara said it was not just Black & Whites coach and former NRL player David Milne his side would have to watch out for.
"They've got a bit of talent, they've lost a couple of close games," he said.
Leeton will wear one-off jumpers combining the Leeton green and Barellan maroon, with 13 to be auctioned off after the game at a function in Barellan after the game. All profits will go towards charities in the Barellan community.
In reserve grade, Griffith will wear a Goolgowi Rabbitohs jumper in tribute to the links between those clubs.
Leeton last played at Barellan in 1964.
The last time the Barellan Rams existed was in early 2005, when a coach was appointed to lead the club before the pin was pulled after consecutive grand final appearances and the 2003 Group 17 premiership. Group 17 itself folded after the 2006 season.
Fiumara hoped the occasion would inspire his side.
"We've got a few Barellan locals here (at the club)," he said. "Hopefully it will give them incentive to win, give them a winning hunger."
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Schedule
11am: Leeton Junior Rugby League mod league tag exhibition game
11.30am: League tag - Leeton v Griffith
12.20pm: Old boys game
1pm: Reserve grade - Leeton v Griffith
2.15pm: Leeton Junior Rugby League under 8/9s exhibition game2.30pm: First grade - Leeton v Griffith
JOHN GRAY
Group 20 league tag
WITH just one point separating first and second, this weekend's round of league tag should determine who will finish on top of the Group 20 ladder.
Leeton (first) will host Griffith (second) at Barellan on Sunday with not just bragging rights, but the minor premiership on the line.
Last week the Greens obliterated Darlington Point-Coleambally 40-0, while the Bidgee Hurricanes went down 12-0 to Waratah Tigers at Narrandera. Leeton put in a strong performance that generated the team's highest score for the year. The Greens scored from the kick-off in the first 20 seconds and it went from there.
"The first half was pretty good," coach David Warburton said. "The second half was scrappy from both sides.
"It was the more involved some of the players have been. The outside backs had some good runs.
"It was the best game where everything stuck together, the girls really gelled. Maybe we did need the week off with the bye."
Katrinas coach Matt O'Connell said the Tigers scored their tries from two defensive lapses.
"One on the stroke of half-time and one four minutes before full time," he said.
"They thought the opposition was a bit weaker, they went one out and fell away from the game plan, they went away from the pattern. In those games where the opposition is not as classy they try and get outside their opposition player instead of sticking to the pattern.
"If they had not done that, they wouldn't have been on their line for two or three sets before half-time."
With three rounds to go after this weekend, a win for Leeton on Sunday will put them a game-and-a-half clear on top, but a loss will drop them to second.
"This will decide who's on top of the table," Warburton said of the Black & Whites clash.
"In the end, if we're good enough we'll win. We've been travelling pretty good.
"I think (we'll) play good. This game has been coming for a long time."
The Katrinas will be on the road to West Wyalong.
"We travel to a much improved Wyalong and we'll see if we can get the lollies," O'Connell said.
Results
Waratah Tigers 12 (tries - Cessy Smith, Kate Johnston, cons - Cessy Smith 2) d Bidgee Hurricanes 0
Leeton 40 (tries - Jessica McDonell 2, Anna Poulsen, Madeline Warburton, Sophie Welsh, Ua Ravu, Remi Wilton, Bulou Baravilala; cons - Ua Ravu 3, Shaylah Elwin) d Darlington Point-Coleambally 0