RUGBY LEAGUE
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THEY have had a week away to relax and refocus, but now it is time for Group 10 premier league minor premiers St Pat’s to switch on as a grand final spot goes on the line in tomorrow’s major semi-final against Cowra Magpies at Carrington Park.
While the Saints have enjoyed a dominant run thus far – winning 12 of their 16 games on the way to the minor premiership – the blue and whites know they face a bigger challenge as they look towards a Group 10 crown.
They face a Cowra Magpies side who overcame the Mudgee Dragons – a team who led the race for the minor premiership for a large part of the season – 36-16 in last Sunday’s major semi-final.
The Bathurst side go in having won both meetings this against the Magpies this season, prevailing 22-18 then 34-16.
However, previous results count for little when it comes to finals football.
“Mentally we sort of needed that week off. We had to work ourselves hard in the last weeks to get ourselves into that minor premiers place ... the boys are now in good spirits,” Pat’s coach Kurt Hancock said.
“Mainly we’ve been using that time to work on our defence though. I find we’ve managed to get a really good balance between that and our attack lately. Controlling the possession is one other important area as well that we’ve worked on.”
In their most recent win over Cowra in Bathurst last month, it was Saints’ halves Garry Reilly and Antonio Ale who did the damage, the pair running riot as they each scored a double and had a hand in several of the day’s other big moments.
Still, Hancock said that his team can expect a much improved Magpies outfit this time around. It means the blue and whites need all players to shine.
“We focused on Cowra at Tuesday training, but from there on it’s all about us. At this time of year you’re not going to get any more fitter and you’re not going to get any more skilled. You’ve got to be ready right now. We’re prepared for this match as if it will be our toughest yet,” he said.
“The whole Cowra back line is lethal and that’s no secret. I’ve always been told that failing was probably the best way to learn, so I’d say they would be taking some lessons out of our last match. We’ve got some respect for their key players because we know what they’re capable of.”
There is good and bad news for Pat’s ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final with some changes to the line up that took down Orange CYMS in the final round of regular competition a fortnight ago.
Utility John Hanscomb is out with a fractured arm, but Cameron Neville is back in the squad and will start from the bench after several weeks away with a rib injury.
The premier league fixture rounds out the day’s semi-final action at Carrington Park, with the match due to start at 2.30pm.
ST PAT’S: 1 Ben Hews, 2 Campbell Scott, 3 Mick Armstrong, 4 Dave Howard, 5 Jake Howard, 6 Garry Reilly, 7 Antonio Ale, 8 Luke Single, 9 Benjamin John, 10 Paleatime Ale, 11 Cyp Ale, 12 Jacob Bell, 13 Brent Dennis, 14 Cameron Neville, 15 Ben Thompson, 16 Dane Fisher, 17 Kurt Hancock.