The Toowoomba Rugby League’s Andrew O’Brien casts his eye over Round 4 of the Hutchies A Grade Cup.
Pittsworth Danes v Goondiwindi Boars
8pm Friday, April 7
Club Pittsworth
Pittsworth have been the benchmark this season so far and I expect the Danes to win this game by a good margin, unless the Boars can turnaround their patchy form.
The visitors are not to be discounted in this match.
The game time was changed due to other events, so let’s hope Pittsworth remember to play footy and not get distracted.
I’m tipping the home side by 22.
Oakey Bears v Warwick Cowboys
6.30pm Saturday, April 8
Trevor Mickleborough Oval, Oakey
Is this the round the Bears win their first game in a long time?
All the signs are that Oakey will have a good crack at the Cowboys.
My spies tell me they were good and physical last weekend and did not allow any ill-discipline to enter their game, but they did push the ball.
Belief is key for the Bears and if they play simple, no mistake footy then they are a chance.
Have no fear, Warwick will be aware of the hibernating Bear. They will be under no illusions and will need to be on their game.
I’m tipping Oakey on the back of their work ethic prior to last week’s game.
They trained in the rain last week whilst several other clubs took the easy option.
Even though they have struggled on the scoreboard over the last few weeks, training in the rain shows they are here for the long haul and are determined to turn their season around which impresses me.
The Obee and Cookie Call will be live from 5.30pm.
Southern Suburbs Tigers v Toowoomba Brothers
6.30pm Saturday, April 8
Clive Berghofer Stadium Toowoomba
Souths are on a bit of a roll at the moment.
They finished well against the Cowboys and learnt from that last weekend against Goondiwindi where I hear they were very good for 60 minutes of the game.
They still have some good players with Dwayne Duncan stepping up this year.
Brothers will be devastated after last weekend as it was their worst loss in recent times.
I felt sorry for coach Liam Cullen, but all he needs to do is to influence his troops to react well and go back to simple footy.
It’s no secret they had a number of quality players out last weekend, but if some of these players return this weekend, they will be a formidable opponent against Souths.
I’m tipping Souths on the back of their recent form.
Dalby Diehards v Wattles Warriors
6.30pm Saturday, April 8
Dalby RLFC
The interesting thing about Wattles is that they are having a good dig in this competition.
Rugby league is a funny but simple game. You run, tackle and catch … straight forward things, right?
Gary Lawrence is our most experienced coach in the competition and if his players keep it simple, they will go a long way in this game.
We saw Highfields drop their guard against the Boars and Dalby are in a similar position.
Coach Kerry Carmichael is very cautious and has a long memory as the Diehards won their first two games last year, but missed the finals.
Something tells me that the Dalby outfit is a bit more polished this season which should make the clash against Wattles a good game, but I’m tipping Dalby to keep rolling along.
Highfields Eagles v Gatton Hawks
Hutchies Match of the Round
2.30pm Sunday, April 9
Kuhls Road Recreation Centre Highfields
Out of all the clashes in the last couple of seasons, these two teams are the closest.
Last season these two sides could not be separated following a 12-11 result and 14-14 draw in the home and away season and a two point (40-38) finals clash.
What will happen this weekend between these two? I have no idea whatsoever.
On paper, both sides look evenly matched but their form is not the same as Pittsworth or Dalby at the moment.
The main issue is that a loss will hurt more than a win at this point in the season.
The Hawks lapsed midway through the second half last week and to be brutally honest, it was one of the worst lapses I’ve seen.
Even if a lapse half the size of last week’s occurs, it’ll be soul destructing for the Hawks.
It’s Highfields in my tips on the back of that terrible Hawks mind-fade last week.
The Obee and Cookie Call will be live from 1.30pm.
Follow all of the Round 4 action on the Toowoomba Rugby League website.
