WERRIS Creek go to Boughton Oval under no pressure for Saturday’s Whitehaven Coal Group 4 First Grade major semi-final.

That’s the word from Magpies’ coach Dave Stewart after he was able to name an unchanged side for the game which will deliver the winner a home ground advantage Grand Final.

“We will go out there under no pressure and no expectations. We’ll go out there with an in-form side and a fit side,” Stewart told Geoff Newling.

“We’re going there to have a crack.”

The Magpies have been the only side to have beaten Moree this season, downing the Boars 40-32 at Werris Creek earlier on August 3.

They have also followed that win with successes over Dungowan (46-20) and North Tamworth (40-22) to end Dungowan and North Tamworth’s semi-final hopes.

“The boys are excited,” Stewart said.

“We’re not putting any pressure on us. We know we are playing the minor premiers for a spot in the Grand Final but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.

“We’re just going out to have a real good crack.”

Stewart has named his best side with an unlucky Tyler Swift the 18th man.

Swift has been one of the great improvers for the Magpies this season but the emergence of the likes of Joash Boney and Kaidyn Saunders has given the Creek such a strong outside back array.

Boney and Saunders have been amongst the best players for the Magpies in recent weeks while the likes of Nathan Vaisey have also been impressive.

Vaisey lobbed at Werris Creek with his former Manilla teammate Mitch Doring and while Doring has been outstanding Vaisey has also proven to be a great addition to the forward pack and given the Maggies a strong forward rotation.

That Mitch Doring has been one of the buys of the season is undoubted.

His brilliance with the ball in hand and off the foot has been huge in recent weeks and helped the Magpies dismantle both Moree and North Tamworth at David Taylor Park.

If the Magpies are to win against Moree Doring will be one of the main contributors.

“He’s a happy footballer,” Dave Stewart said of the halfback.

The Werris Creek pack will also need to be at their best with props Thomas Brown and Beau Parry forming a strong front-row with brilliant hooker Dylan Porter.

Porter’s ability to run out of dummy half and create holes for his forwards is also a major plus for the Maggies.

Backrowers Riley Leonard, Cody Tickle and Nate Follington also have the ability to spread the ball with their attack and five-eighth Nash Porter could be a key man with his attacking prowess improving week by week and his kicking ability to offset Doring’s efforts.

All in all they possess a wonderful chance to claim a win and host a Grand Final.

WERRIS CREEK: 1 Ronin Hadden, 2 Josh Boney, 3 Kaidyn Saunders, 4 Harlee Millgate, 5 Nathanael Slater, 6 Nash Porter, 7 Mitch Doring, 8 Thomas Brown, 9 Dylan Porter, 10 Beau Parry, 11 Riley Leonard, 12 Cody Tickle, 13 Nate Follington, 14 Wes Riley, 15 Mitchell Cox, 16 Nathan Vaisey, 17 Charlie Parsons. Coach – Dave Stewart.

MAJOR SEMI-FINALS

Saturday, August 24 (Boughton Oval, Moree): First Grade – Moree v Werris Creek (3pm kick-off). Second Grade: Moree v Dungowan (1.25pm kick-off). Under 18 – Dungowan v Werris Creek (12 Noon kick-off). Ladies League Tag – North Tamworth v Kootingal (10.45am kick-off).

MINOR SEMI-FINALS

Sunday, August 25 (Jubilee Oval, Boggabri): First Grade- Boggabri v Kootingal (3pm kick-off). Second Grade: Werris Creek v Gunnedah (1.25pm kick-off). Under 18- Kootingal v North Tamworth (12 Noon kick-off). Ladies League Tag – Werris Creek v Dungowan (10,45am kick-off).

Words: Geoff Newling

Image: Bill Poulos