If there’s one thing Group 10 chairman Linore Zamparini has picked up on in over a decade in charge of one Country Rugby League’s best competitions, it’s come finals time anything can happen.
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Think the Mudgee Dragons storming to the title from fifth last year, Brock McGarity’s match winning, last minute penalty kick in the 2013 major semi-final or even that Terry Crane chip kick in 2009.
Really, anything invariably does happen.
And, on the eve of the 2017 Group 10 finals series, Zamparini can’t wait.
“Geez, it’s hard to pick,” Zamparini said ahead of Saturday’s Mudgee versus Lithgow elimination semi-final and Bathurst Panthers against Oberon qualifying semi on Sunday at Carrington Park.
Orange CYMS earned the week off after earning a third straight premier league minor premiership.
“CYMS and Panthers have obviously been the dominant sides all year, but every time you think that way I’m reminded of Mudgee last year,” the chairman continued.
“The other three sides in the competition certainly aren’t out of it. Anything can happen, we’ve seen it time and time again.”
Anything can happen, we’ve seen it time and time again.
- Group 10 chairman Linore Zamparini
Workies stormed into fifth spot on Sunday thanks to a stunning 16-14 win over the Dragons at Glen Willow.
The two-point triumph dashed the finals hopes of Hawks, a side that occupied fifth spot for all of 24 hours after winning a final round clash with St Pat’s on Saturday.
In the lead-up, Cowra, too, was capable of finishing in fifth, if round 18 results had gone the Magpies’ way.
“For that final spot to not be decided until 4pm on the final Sunday of the regular season, that’s not a bad way for it to go,” Zamparini said.
“Lithgow’s playing as well as anyone at the moment, and you only have to look at their reserve grade side sitting in second to see why.
“They’ve stuck to their guns and they’re doing well, despite not having an 18s side.”
CYMS, Hawks, Bathurst clubs St Pat’s and Panthers, Lithgow, Oberon, Mudgee and Blayney have all had sides qualify for finals in 2017.
The inclusion of all of the Group’s clubs bar Cowra – the Magpies finished a win short of the top five in both premier league and first division – points towards a bumper series.
“I hope so. We’ve certainly had better weather this season, and if that continues we should be in for a good month,” Zamparini added.
The Group 10 semi-finals start on Saturday at Mudgee.