Wests Sweat On Clarke's Fitness

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday August 22, 2007

By MIKE GANDON

WESTERN Suburbs hooker Matt Clarke remains in doubt for the Illawarra Carlton League first semi-final against Thirroul at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.

Clarke sustained rib damage in the Red Devils' 22-14 win over Corrimal in the elimination final last Saturday.

Thirroul have prop Nathan Sutton in doubt for the game after he injured his arm in the Butchers' 44-22 loss to Collegians in the qualifying final at WIN Stadium last Sunday.

With Jay van Meegan already out for the remainder of the series after surgery on a badly broken thumb and Sutton doubtful, Butchers coach Phil Ostwald has rated prop Joel Attenborough only a 50-50 chance of being fit to play after being sidelined with a knee injury since round 17 of the regular season, when Thirroul and Wests last met on July 28.

Attenborough said he would be doing everything possible to be right to play in this sudden-death match.

If Clarke has to drop out, it would be a huge blow to the Devils' chances as they rely heavily on his lively work from dummy half, including his sniping runs, smart kicking and passing, and his non-stop defensive work.

Clarke's head-to-head contest against Thirroul captain and hooker Ben Linde would be a highlight of the game.

The Devils' backline depth will be boosted by the return of Ron Prince and Sam Morath from the St George Illawarra Dragons' Premier League side, which has a bye this round.

Wests coach Jason Ferris was pleased with the Devils' match-winning defensive effort in the second half against Corrimal. They kept the Cougars scoreless in that term, but he wants an improvement in all facets, especially their ball security.

"I get so annoyed because I know we've got so much potential. Let's be honest, we're not reaching it at the moment," Ferris said.

"I think we scratch the surface some time but we just don't go on with it.

"We showed a lot of guts in the second half but I don't know what it's going to take to make us click. There's four (teams) left and we're one of them."

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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