THE preliminary final of the Mount Isa Pool Association couldn't have been scripted better, as the two Buffs Club sides, Buffs JMI and the Buffalo Bills, square off to take on the Overlander Dingoes in the grand final next Sunday.
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Outside the Dingoes, the two Buffs sides showed the best form in the second half of the year. The Bills only lost to the Dingoes, while the JMI only lost one, defeating the Dingoes twice through the year. In their only completed fixture on the year it was the JMI who got the spoils, though both sides have capitalised on momentum since then. Now both are vastly different and talented sides.
Since the last time these two met, the addition of Josh Hart into the JMI line-up has paid dividends as both an outstanding player and presence within the side that puts them in the best position to win. He and Frank Gatto have steered the ship for juniors Sam and Niki Burnett to shine. Both finished in the top-10 and in the train-on squad for representative duty, showing more reasons the JMI have stunned the competition. However in their loss to the Dingoes last week, Gatto was their best player, while the rest of the team faltered slightly. In typical JMI style though, their loss will only focus them further.
The Buffalo Bills played well in their first finals appearance this year, but neither that win, nor the one-frame victory last week over the Irish Club Outlaws were convincing.
But in the finals players like Nathan Mann, Lee Baker and Bill Heggan have dug the side out of trouble. Ziggy Grubczynski and Tony Miller are the Bills main weapons, with Paul Caulfield and Heath McAnally not far behind. If all the frontline players can fire, the Bills are in with a shot. Tip: Buffs JMI 8-5
Team Lists: Buffs JMI: Frank Gatto (c), Josh Hart, Niki Burnett (j), Josh Burnett (j), Sam Burnett (j), Stewart Burnett, Randall Thorpe, Tony Louen-Palo, Miguel Gil-Relano, Gary Powe. Buffalo Bills: Ziggy Grubczynski (c), Tony Miller, Paul Caulfield, Paul Finnegan, Heath McAnally, Lee Baker, Bill Heggan, Cieran McCrory, Nathan Mann, Dallas Kitchin, Justin Wilkins, Andy Allen. Top 3 players: Buffs JMI: Sam Burnett (2nd Overall); Frank Gatto (6th); Niki Burnett (7th);Buffaloes: Ziggy Grubczynski (T4th); Paul Caulfield (8th); Heath McAnally (T12th)
