Round 4 of the Harrigan Premiership is in the lap of the weather gods again this weekend. With one win and one loss from their first two starts this season, Collegians will be keen for a run after missing out last week due to the inclement weather.
Peter Hooper’s men are preparing to face off against Corrimal at home on Saturday, who are one win from three to start the season.
Collies got the better of the Cougars in all three games last season. While they were well beaten in the first two encounters, the visitors will be buoyed by their final meeting, going down 34-26.
Cougars Coach Sean Moloney is looking for an 80-minute performance from his troops, sweating on the fitness of star halfback Jarrod Mullen and several key forwards.
De La Salle heads to Gibson Park for a blockbuster clash with Thirroul. Also short of a gallop after last week’s washout with Collegians, the Shire-based outfit will be out to make a statement against the defending premiers, who knocked them out of last year’s race in the preliminary final, having beaten them on two of the three occasions they met during the regular season.
The Butchers will be disappointed to have come away with a draw from last week’s game with Dapto after leading by 10 points with 10 minutes to play.
In the Bar TV ‘Match of the Round,’ Wests meet Dapto, who are still searching for their first win of the season after snatching a late draw with the Butchers last week despite two players in the sin bin on separate occasions in the second half.
Dapto Coach Blake Wallace will no doubt have laid down the law at training this week, with the Canaries having at least one player sent off or sin-binned in their opening three games. The Devils returned to form last week with a 30-6 win over the Cougars after going down 40-16 to De La Salle in Round 2.
The Lower Grades
The Butchers host newcomers Avondale Wombats in what looks to be an intriguing clash in the Harrigan Plate. The Wombats won their opening two games before last week’s washout. After losing their opening round match 30-18 to Wests, their opponents have strung two wins together.
The Devils sit atop the ladder after two wins and a bye. They will face the Canaries, who have just one point to show from their first three outings after a draw with the Cougars in Round 2. In the other games, the Cougars meet Collies, and Berkeley hosts Helensburgh.
In Harrigan Shield action, Berkeley hosts Avondale Greyhounds, and the Northern Suburbs Bulldogs take on the Wombats.
Round 4 Fixtures>> Harrigan Plate
Round 4 Fixtures>> Harrigan Shield
Pictured: Collegians Sam McCann