Uralla Tigers are zeroing in on top spot on the Group 19 second division table but face a tough task this Saturday in taking on the in-form Guyra Super Spuds.
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The Tigers are locked in a four-way battle with three other teams – Tenterfield, Warialda and the Spuds – in equal first.
Uralla toppled local rivals Walcha on Sunday 34-14 and, while the Roos sit at the bottom of the table, Tigers coach Scott Swain said their opponents gave them a run for their money.
“We knew they would turn up and we were prepared for it. We were a little bit disappointed we couldn't play our style of game,” he said.
“That all goes to the enthusiasm of what Walcha had for the day, if they weren't going to have enthusiasm for that game they never will.
“The local derby always brings the best out of Walcha so we were prepared for it and we got across the line.”
They’ll be up against it this Saturday when they host the Super Spuds coming off a 40-10 thrashing of the Tenterfield Tigers.
Guyra boast a formidable forward pack which pummeled the Tenterfield side but Swain believes it will suit his team’s style. Uralla will also welcome back captain-coach Josh Clark.
“Guyra have been pretty much a standout late in the first round,” Swain said.
“They did knock us over early up at Guyra but that wasn't really an idea of how they were because they weren't overly strong then, we just played really bad, but they have got better.
“They are definitely going to be hard to beat.”
In the league tag, the Uralla side continued their unbeaten run with an 18-4 win over the second-placed Walcha side.
“It was a funny game on both sides. It had the potential to be a top game but both sides struggled to capitalise on breaks and things like that,” coach Kerry Brett said of the Walcha game.
While they have been winning, Brett believes they are still not quite living up to their potential.
“We are still relying on individual brilliance. We have some very good players in there and we are relying on that a lot,” he said.
Although Guyra’s league tag team sit at the bottom of the table, Brett said his team are aware of the danger the Spuds possess.
“We have got to shut those good, nipping, stepping girls and close them up defensively,” he said.
“Just keep building on what we have been doing at training, we haven’t got it right yet but watch out when we do get it right.”