From the Armidale Express, 19/03/2010.

Armidale’s Australian football team, the New England Nomads, will put their skills to the test when they play a series of practice matches this weekend.

As hosts of the Tablelands Cup, the Nomads will welcome four regional teams to Armidale, with North Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Valley, Inverell and Tamworth Swans making the trek to Bellevue Oval.

To be played over Saturday and Sunday, Nomads president Ben Page said the round-robin carnival would be the perfect preparation before round one of the Tamworth AFL competition on April 10.

“Fitness-wise I think the players from all the clubs will benefit a lot from the Cup,” he said.

“It can be pretty gruelling but it’s the ideal way to blow off the cobwebs.”

Due to a large number of players being unavailable on Sunday, the Swans will only play on Saturday.

In a bid to replicate a full match, each of the other teams will play one 22-minute quarter against the Tamworth side.

All other games are comprised of two 22-minute halves.

The first game on Saturday will be played between New England and Inverell at 10.40am, while the Nomads will close out the day at 4.30 against Nambucca.

Play starts at 10am on Sunday between New England and Coffs Harbour, with the final to be played at 1.30.

Full canteen facilities and a barbecue will run all weekend at Bellevue Oval.

Not for reproduction except by permission of the Armidale Express.

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