Moree Minions before their 3–0 preliminary-final win over Next Gen at Moree Services Club on Saturday, September 19. Photo: Moree Online News.
Moree Minions are preparing for a Grand Final rematch against Narrabri Elevens after fighting their way back into the Namoi League decider.
The Minions will face Elevens at Gately Field, Narrabri, from 2.30pm on Saturday, September 26, after Narrabri handed the Moree side a 4–1 defeat in the major semi-final.
That loss sent Minions into Saturday’s preliminary final against fellow Moree side Next Gen at Moree Services Club, where a 3–0 victory gave them another shot at Elevens and a place in the Grand Final.
Minions entered the finals after a dominant regular season, recording 13 wins, one draw and two losses from 16 games to finish with 40 competition points.
They scored 109 goals and conceded just 18 across those matches, finishing with a goal difference of plus 91 and averaging almost 6.8 goals per game.
But for all that dominance, Elevens proved to be Minions’ problem side.
Both of Minions’ regular-season losses came against Elevens, who also accounted for their only draw.
The sides drew 2–2 on May 2 before Elevens defeated Minions 4–2 on May 30. Minions responded with a 3–1 win on June 27, but Elevens took their final regular-season encounter 3–2 on August 8.
Their fifth meeting came in the major semi-final, when Elevens’ 4–1 victory secured Narrabri a direct path into the Grand Final and left Minions needing to win the preliminary final to stay alive.
Standing in their way was Next Gen, but Minions carried a commanding head-to-head record against their Moree rivals into the knockout match.
They had defeated Next Gen 8–0, 5–0, 7–0 and 4–1 in their four regular-season meetings, a combined score of 24–1.
Saturday’s 3–0 preliminary-final victory extended that record to five wins from five recorded meetings this season and secured Minions their place in the decider.
The Grand Final will now be the sixth meeting between Minions and Elevens this season.
Across the previous five, Elevens have three wins, Minions have one and the sides have drawn once.
For Minions, Saturday offers another opportunity against the one side that has consistently disrupted an otherwise dominant season, this time with the Namoi League title on the line.
Moree Minions and Narrabri Elevens will meet in the Namoi League Grand Final at Gately Field, Narrabri, from 2.30pm on Saturday, September 26.
