THE next three games will define Bowral’s finals credentials. They take on Uni Malee Bulls away tomorrow before facing the Shamrocks at home and then Shoalhaven away.

The Blacks will be aided by a first grade bye next week, but all three teams are ahead of them on the ladder. If they can beat Uni and take any points from second-placed Shoalhaven and third-placed Shamrocks, their finals prosects will be drastically improved.

Bowral then take on the Vikings and Tech/Tahs before finishing the season at home against Shoalhaven. They should beat the Vikings, and taking down the Tahs would go a long way to securing fourth or fifth spot.

The Bulls are eight points ahead of Bowral in third, while the Tahs are just one point above them in fourth. Bowral edged out Uni 25-14, with Leif King bagging a hat-trick, last time they met, but the Blacks should have won more comfortably in their five tries-to-one victory. An inability to land any of their conversions kept Uni in the game and Bowral must make the most of their penalties and conversions tomorrow.

The Blacks have recovered from their injury nightmares over the last two months but will be far from full strength tomorrow. Young fullback Jack Gates has representative honours with NSW Country at Bundanoon on Sunday, while Mark Minter is away and Baedon Terry will be in Perth for the Tri-Nations.

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Friday, July 18