The final series of the Austbrokers Canberra Raiders Cup launches this weekend with two mouthwatering fixtures.
Local rivals Queanbeyan Kangaroos and Queanbeyan Blues headline the major semi-final, while the West Belconnen Warriors tackle the Gungahlin Bulls in the minor semi-final.
Major semi-final
Queanbeyan Kangaroos v Queanbeyan Blues - Sunday 3:15pm at Freebody Oval
The Blues have won the last two premierships and are aiming to reach their fourth consecutive grand final.
However, they must defeat the Kangaroos who are undefeated since Round 2.
Playing their first game of the season, the Kangaroos were blown away by the Blues in a 56-0 loss but have won every match since then, including a 27-12 win against the Blues in Round 10.
Despite this Kangaroos coach Aaron Gorrell told the Queanbeyan Age that his side needs to lift this weekend.
“They’ve obviously been the dominant team over the last two years. They’ve won the last two competitions, and we beat them in the one before that,” Gorrell said.
“We need to be at our best and maybe a little bit more.”
The Blues enter the finals series in ominous form after beating last year’s grand finalists Goulburn 46-6.
The winner of Sunday’s match guarantees a place in the grand final, while the loser has another attempt to make the final by playing the victor of the Warriors v Bulls.
Minor semi-final
West Belconnen Warriors v Gungahlin Bulls - Saturday 3:15pm at Raiders Belconnen
The Gungahlin Bulls are back playing finals football for the first time in six years as they prepare to play the West Belconnen Warriors.
West Belconnen, who are coached by former Raider Troy Thompson, are also back playing finals football after a prolonged absence.
The Warriors had the chance to finish second but had to settle for third place after losing to the Blues a fortnight ago.
In a battle for second place, Troy Thompson’s sides were unable to stop a rampant Blues outfit as they succumbed to a 32-22 loss.
Each side has grabbed a win over each other in the regular season, with the average winning margin being only four points.
Expect another tussle tomorrow as the winner earns the right to continue their season and play the loser of the major semi-final.
| TIME & VENUE | HOME TEAM | AWAY TEAM | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi Final 1 3:15 PM Sat 27 Aug Raiders Belconnen (Map) |
West Belconnen Firsts | vs | Gungahlin Bulls Firsts | MATCH CENTRE
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| Semi Final 2 3:15 PM Sun 28 Aug Seears Workwear Oval (Map) |
Queanbeyan Kangaroos Firsts | vs | Queanbeyan United Firsts | MATCH CENTRE
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SEE ALL THE AWARDS WINNERS FROM THE MCINTYRE MEDAL HELD ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT
