Four-way race for GTS Minor Premiership

Author: Jeff Hanson
Timestamp: Thu 11 Jul 2024, 10:49 AM

The Blumers Lawyers George Tooke Shield (GTS) competitions go into recess this weekend for the July bye round.

It’s a timely break, as we have a four-way tie at the top of the men’s tackle ladder with just three regular-season rounds remaining.

Following Bungendore’s come-from-behind win over the Cootamundra Bulldogs at Les Boyd Oval on Saturday, the Tigers are on top with a strong record of nine wins and two losses, giving them 18 competition points.

Cootamundra, Binalong, and Harden round out the top four with the same record as Bungendore, but only the point differential separating teams.

Bungendore scored some massive wins early on, which has given them a +278-point difference, 50 better than the second-placed Cootamundra (+228).

Binalong (+194) and Harden (+192) are close, and interestingly, it’s Harden with the best defensive record (-144).

Since having 50 points put on them by Bungendore in Round One, they’ve only conceded 94 points in ten matches, boasting the best record, ahead of Bungendore and Binalong (both -150) and Cootamundra (-158).

The best attacking team is Bungendore (+428), ahead of Cootamundra (+386), Binalong (+344), and Harden (+336).

Heavyweights do battle every week in the final three rounds, but Bungendore looks to have one hand on the GTS Minor Premiership.

In Round 12, they host Binalong and then finish the season against two struggling sides: visiting UC Stars in Round 13 and entertaining North Canberra in Round 14.

In contrast, Binalong has the most challenging run into finals, playing their fellow top-four rivals.

The Brahmans have back-to-back away games against Harden and Boorowa before hosting Cootamundra in the regular-season finale.

Cootamundra and Harden also have tough matches to round out the season, with the Bulldogs at home to Harden in Round 12 and away to Binalong in Round 14.

A Round 13 match against the fifth-placed Boorowa Rovers won’t be a walk in the park, either.

Harden finishes their campaign against the struggling Crookwell Green Devils, but in the meantime, they still have an away trip to Cootamundra in Round 12 and a home match against Binalong in Round 13.

In the battle for fifth place, Boorowa can all but seal a finals berth in Round 12 when visiting the Green Devils in their Grand Final rematch at Crookwell Memorial Oval.

Click here for the GTS ladder, draw, and results.

Bungendore Tigers

Standing: 1st
Predicted finish: Minor Premiers

Record: 9 wins & 2 losses

Run home: Binalong (H), UC Stars (A), North Canberra (H)

Cootamundra Bulldogs

Standing: 2nd

Predicted finish 3rd

Record: 9 wins & 2 losses

Run home: Harden (H), Boorowa (A), Binalong (A)

Binalong Brahmans

Standing: 3rd