By: Tim Braban - Toowoomba Chronicle 23rd March 2011
A SIX-month off season has done nothing to dampen the fierce rivalry that exists between South Toowoomba and Toowoomba Tigers in the AFL Darling Downs senior competition.
Last year's grand finalists meet in the opening clash of the 2011 campaign in what is sure to be a fiery affair.
Despite coming agonisingly close to last year's premiership, losing to Tigers by three points, South Toowoomba Bombers captain Ben Newman said revenge couldn't be further from his mind.
“I don't see it as a chance at revenge, more as trying to get a good start to the season,” Newman said.
South Toowoomba struggled early last season, losing four of its first six games, and only just scraped into the finals series on points differential.
Newman is mindful of last year's sluggish start and hopeful the Bombers' new-look team can make a positive start to their 2011 premiership tilt.
“We've got a bit of a new-look side this year and we're pretty happy with the players we've got,” Newman said.
Unafraid to pull any punches, Tigers coach Andrew Farr criticised the Bombers for their active recruitment of players like Holman Medallist Jeff Neumann, from Coolaroo, in the off-season.
“They seem to like big noting what fantastic juniors they have, then they go out and steal all the best footballers from other clubs,” Farr said.
“With Souths you know that by the end of the year they are going to be a quality outfit but last year they got towelled up in the first round by Coolaroo and had a poor opening month.
“I'm sure that's something their coaches would be looking to rectify.”
The Tigers have had the better of recent clashes between the two rivals, a record South Toowoomba hopes to change.
“They are normally the team that knocks us out of the finals and you could say they've got the stick over us but hopefully that changes this weekend,” Newman said.
Last Modified on 14/04/2011 12:41
