THE young Port Macquarie Magpies will be better for the experience according to coach Anthony Beasley.
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His team lost to the Coffs Breakers last weekend, missing a chance to go straight through to the grand final.
We’re looking forward to making up for it this weekend. The young guys will want to rectify their errors from last week.
- Anthony Beasley
The Magpies will travel to Coffs Harbour International Stadium this weekend to play in a preliminary final, this time against the Sawtell Toormina Saints.
A win will place them in the grand final where they can attempt redemption over the Breakers. A loss will end their campaign.
Sawtell Toormina Saints meanwhile had last week off and will no doubt be physically better for the rest.
If nothing else, it will have improved the chances of seeing a return of injured key players Leif Stuart and Brendan Foote who provide a focal point in attack for the reigning Premiers.
These two teams matched up on four occasions during the home and away season for two wins apiece.
Overall, there was just 57 points between the sides across these four matches and every indication is that the preliminary final will be another tight, hard fought match.
This is a rematch of last season’s Grand Final where Sawtell prevailed by seven points, adding extra motivation for the Magpies.
Beasley said if not for some little errors his team could have won last weekend.
“We’re looking forward to making up for it this weekend. The young guys will want to rectify their errors from last week,” he said.
“Jesse (Schmidt) has been out for over a month and was a bit rusty coming back. He pulled up alright and I think he’ll be better for the run.
“In his own mind he will be more confident after last week. Craig Dicker is another of our leaders who came back after a long stint on the sidelines.”
Admittedly an inexperienced team, Beasley said his players will have a better understanding of what to expect after last weekends loss.
“They’ll come out firing this week,” he said.
“Sawtell are a good, hard and experienced team. It’s just a matter of sticking to our guns and following our game plan.
“We have to keep running all day and eventually we think we can run over the top of them.
“That’s our one positive I feel, we are younger and fitter but they are an older more experienced team. We won’t be under estimating them.”
Co-captain Dicker is expecting his team to get back to the basics against Sawtell.
“The younger blokes will have to step up again. Sawtell have had the week off so they’ll be ready to go,” he said.
“We know that we have to play as a team first and foremost. The one-percenters are going to make all the difference.”
Action gets underway in Coffs Harbour at the Coffs International Stadium at 11am, with the first bounce in the main game at 2:20pm.