At times in 2020, we didn’t know whether we would see our great game flourish at any level, so to be here today, with a South Coast Monaro 2 nd Division clash of the titans looming, it’s a great day for rugby. After toppling the table topping Mudchooks at the semi-final stage, Jindabyne travel to Taralga today to take on the Tigers, a tantalising tussle of two of the standout teams in 2020. The Bushpigs’s dream run to a Premiership title could not have a more difficult final hurdle however, taking on the standard bearing Tigers although the sceptre of recent history does bode well for the underdogs. The Tigers are probably still stinging from their 2019 loss to Crookwell in the big dance. Unlike this season, where they have had their hiccups, Taralga cruised to a Grand Final berth a year ago, and fell on the last day, with the finishing line in site. In 2020, the Tigers’ minor slip in form was started by Jindabyne as well. The Bushpigs embarrassed Taralga 29-19, a flogging for this Tigers club whose standards dictate anything other than a win is a disaster. Put simply, Taralga have to win today to not only exorcize the demons of 2019, but to stamp their authority on the competition at large, because another GF choke will not breed fear into the rest of the league next season, especially with Crookwell waiting in the wings. For Jindabyne, this is a free hit. The Bushpigs have done brilliantly to make it this far, beating Bungendore two weeks in a row to make a date with the Tigers. They are not expected to win, therefore have nothing to lose. Here’s hoping for a tight contest, not like if an actual Bushpig met a Tiger’s teeth. Like the namesakes, the Bushpigs have to hope the Tigers are not at their best, but with the pressure of expectation, anything can happen. Brumbies Media
TARLAGA TIGERS* 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Thomas Andreatta George Cummins Jace Cosgrove Matthew Chalker (VC) Christopher Roberts Mitchell Turner Joshua Croker Isaac Elliott Benjamin Thomas Joel Croker (C) Dale Graham Samuel Conlon Nicholas Bennett Dominic Stephens James Marmont
RESERVES 16. Matthew Bird 17. Thomas White 18. Lachlan Corbett 19. Carl Elliot 20. Steven Cummins 21. Petelo Epati *Correct at time of print. Subject to change.
Loose Head Prop Hooker Tight Head Prop Left Lock Right Lock Left Flanker Right Flanker Number Eight Scrum half Fly half Left Wing Left Centre Right Centre Right Wing Full Back
JINDABYNE BUSHPIGS* 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Issac Maw Troy Tuddenham Simon Rudd Samual Pfitzner Ian Vagg Matthew Robinson Thomas Land Deon Becker Dylan Johnson Henry Schofield Cooper Swan Matthew Caldwell Jared Cummins Mitchell Thrum Lucas Rixon
Loose Head Prop Hooker Tight Head Prop Left Lock Right Lock Left Flanker Right Flanker Number Eight Scrum half Fly half Left Wing Left Centre Right Centre Right Wing Full Back
RESERVES# 16. Michael Needham 17. Chris Marshall 18. Jake Roarty 19. Azzam Hudson 20. Patrick Egan 21. Daniel Josifovski 22. Matthew Want 23. Lochlann Colin *Correct at time of print. Subject to change. # One to be omitted
SOUTH COAST MONARO SEMI-FINAL ACTION
Photos: Kathy Toirkens & Mick Pfitzner