Reds ready for finals
BY ALEX TIGANI
Pokolbin Reds co-coach Luke Kermode does not want his side to lose momentum before the finals.
After two climatic clashes at Nulkaba, the Hunter Divisional premiership contender will now play host to University this Saturday.
“We still want to keep the momentum going but this Saturday is also an opportunity to give some guys a bit more game time that haven’t had as much the last month or so,” Kermode told The Hunter River Times.
Pokolbin will join minor premier Medowie, Griffins and Cooks Hill in this year’s final however the final order of the top four will not be determined until tomorrow’s match.
One thing is certain, the Reds are now ready to match Medowie after their thrilling 14-13 defeat.
“We should have won but they pretty much scored in the last minute and kicked a conversion to win,” he continued.
“We were all over them, so it is not a bad result because we feel as though we have their number and we will get them when it counts now.”
Last week the Reds returned to the winners’ list with a narrow 3-0 win against Easts.
Kermode and his coaching partner Glenn Buttrey could not help smirk when reflecting on the side’s performance.
One penalty goal with 15 minutes to go, real tight arm wrestle.
“Easts were desperate to win to keep their semi-final hopes alive so it was a semi-final standard hit out,” he explained.
“Funnily enough we have been waiting for a dry track and we final got it and dropped more ball than we have all year.”
The Reds sit below second placed Griffins on the table meaning they are likely to play Cooks Hill in a knockout final next week.
“That’s just how it is, we just have to focus on University first,” he concluded.
“It is going to be a hard game, we don’t want to drop this one we want to keep the momentum going and grab another win.”