Round 5 Preview for SG Ball & Harold MatthewsThe Canberra Raiders junior representative sides head to the Cessnock Sports Ground this week to take on the Newcastle Knights in round 4 of the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions.
Both teams will be raring to get back onto the field this week after both games against Parramatta were postponed last weekend due to the torrential rain experienced in the nation’s capital.
The Harold Matthews team is still looking to win its first game of the season after going down narrowly to a strong South Sydney side almost two weeks ago.
Coach Brett Maron has once again stressed that improved ball control is needed if the Raiders want to beat the Knights.
“We’ve got to control the ball; if we keep our share of possession we will be dangerous.” Maron said. “In the first half (in the game against Souths) we only completed two sets in a row twice and scored both times.”
Look out for big performances from talented centre Lachlan Croker and powerhouse forward Tyrell Lomax who both played well against the Rabbitohs.
Croker played strongly in attack setting up a couple of nice try scoring opportunities for his fellow backs while Lomax defied the sweltering conditions at Kippax to gain a lot of good ground for the Green Machine.
The Newcastle Harold Matthews side has registered two wins and two losses this season and will be hungry for a victory after going down narrowly to Western Suburbs last weeks.
In the second game of the afternoon the Raiders’ SG ball side will be looking to make it three wins in a row this week after their exciting come from behind victory against the Bunnies in their last game.
Coach Peter Marrapodi has put both victories this year down to his teams improved attitude and their increased desire to win games.
“We started the year with two bad loses in the trial and round 1 (against Manly) and we spoke about how much talent we had…but talent doesn’t win you games hunger and the desire does and I think the last two wins have come down to that improved hunger,” Marrapodi said.
Raiders fans should expect a big performance from livewire halfback Anthony Milford. Against the Rabbitohs Milford played a major role in the Green Machine’s second half rival. Not only did he score the winning try with a spectacular chip and chase but his well weighted kicks during the last 10 minutes of the game kept Souths hemmed deep in their half at a highly vital stage of the match.
Unlike the Raiders, Newcastle has had a slow start of the SG Ball competition winning only one of their first opening four games.
Source: Raiders.com.au
Topic: Raiders SG Ball and Harold Matthews Previews
