WAUCHOPE will host Old Bar Beach in Sunday’s Group 3 rugby league grand final at Lake Bain Oval after the Pirates edged out Forster Tuncurry in the preliminary final.
The Blues will go into the game as the rampaging favourites after previously defeating Old Bar Beach 52-6 in the major semi-final.
Although the game is expected to be closer than that shellacking, most pundits are predicting a comfortable Wauchope victory.
There are no weaknesses in the Blues’ line-up, which has gone through the season undefeated to date.
Wauchope won all 12 of its regular season matches, finishing with a points differential of 279 after scoring 461 points and conceding just 182.
Old Bar Beach had similar attacking vigour in its contests, scoring 458 points, but conceded 263 in the season proper.
Defence will be the key for both sides on Sunday.
Robert Trembath, Mathew Bird, Justin Laurie, Adam McMurray and Dean Hurrell are the likely men to lead the way for the Blues.
In attack, Wauchope has a plethora of try-scoring options, with Anthony Coombes, Sam Watts, Billy Berne and Aaron Ison all capable of crossing the line or setting up a teammate.
Kick-off on Sunday is at 3pm, with Wauchope to play Wingham in the reserve grade decider at 1.10pm.
In the under-18 match, which starts 11.45am, Wingham takes on Forster Tuncurry, while the women’s league tag contest between Forster Tuncurry and Wauchope kicks off at 10.30.
