Bathurst District Football: Abercrombie FC Navy secure minor premiership, still look for winning end to regular season

Abercrombie FC Navy are the 2020 Bathurst District Football men's premier league minor premiers following last Sunday's penultimate round of the regular season.

The team will go into the semi-finals guaranteed first place on the ladder following their 4-2 win over Collegians in a top-of-the-table clash - putting that prize out of their opponents' reach in the process.

Navy have been the benchmark since the early days of the season, dropping just a single game all year which came against their Abercrombie Gold club mates.

Captain Angus Daymond said the first place finish is a testament to the team's desire, evident from the opening round of the season.

"We've fought hard and put in the work this year. That's a change from some other years where we've gotten a bit lazy at times but we've worked really hard to get to where wanted to be," he said.

"That loss [to Gold] was a bit of a reality check for us and it kicked us into gear a bit."

Is last week's Navy versus Collies clash a preview for the grand final? You'd be brave to bet against it.

The two teams have been flying high in the top of two positions on the ladder since the early stages of the season, and Collegians currently have an eight point gap back to the third placed AFC Gold squad.

For now, it's Abercrombie would have the upper hand on them.

"Last week's game showed how well we put in what we've been working on and that the hard work is paying off," Daymond said.

"Everyone's doing their job for the team. There's no individuals out there. Everyone is there for each other and that's what got us that win.

"Whether people are playing 10 minutes or the full game, they want to do their job. Everyone is always getting each other."

While their first place is guaranteed regardless of how this Sunday pans out the Navy squad won't be happy if they enter the major semi-final rematch with Collegians on the back of a loss.

But they'll certainly have to earn a victory.

That's because they're coming up against a CSU FC team fighting for their place in the finals.

A draw or loss for the Stags against the Navy men and a win on the weekend for Lithgow Workmen's will see the latter earn the remaining minor semi-final ticket against AFC Gold.

Daymond and Navy are keen to see what CSU dish up with their finals ambitions on the line.

"CSU are coming home very strongly so it's going to be interesting to see how it all pans out," he said.

"It should be a really good game. Last game we played them it was in a midweek match and it was nil-all, but we had a very depleted team. They've got a very handy side though."