In-form Marlins Go On Defensive

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday June 14, 2008

By TIM KEEBLE

THE best defence in the Jim Beam Cup will confront the best offence when the Shellharbour Marlins host the Sydney Bulls tomorrow at Ron Costello Oval.

Gunning for their ninth-straight win, fourth-placed Shellharbour are the competition's benchmark when it comes to stopping teams, conceding 19.6 points per game.

The top-ranked Bulls are giving up 23 points per night, but are far and away the leading attacking unit with 43.6 points per game.

"It'll be interesting to see if defence or attack comes out on top. Hopefully it's defence," Marlins coach Dave Walsh said.

"They're all about trying to blow you off the park early. They've got clever halves, a good kicking game and a good power game. We want to nullify them in those areas and get them into an arm wrestle.

"The boys are playing well and we just need to keep doing what we've been doing."

Walsh has made just one change to the squad that thrashed Wentworthville last week, dropping Jared Roberts and bringing in prop Joe Sang-Yum.

The Marlins have not met the Bulls in 2008. Sydney won both meetings last season.

"We're pretty keen to turn that around and keep setting new standards," Walsh said.

"Hopefully we can repeat the near-perfect game we played against Windsor two weeks ago."

After watching his side scrape together just four wins in the Marlins' debut season last year, Walsh has them on track for a finals berth.

Shellharbour might even get Wendell Sailor back for the play-offs if the injured winger is not rushed back into the St George Illawarra line-up upon recovering.

"We've won eight in a row," Walsh said.

"There's a quiet confidence in the team but there's 11 games to go and we're not getting carried away."

Kick-off is at 3.30pm.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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