ZAC Rowlandson and his Oberon Tigers know how it feels to be leading the Group 10 premier league competition, but on Saturday afternoon they will be fighting for survival instead.
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After a remarkable start to the season which saw Oberon string together seven consecutive wins, the Tigers plateaued in the back half of the season to finish fourth.
It means Oberon will host the fifth-finishing, enigmatic Mudgee Dragons in Saturday’s minor semi-final, the first time the Tigers will host a final in recent memory.
“I think we had a fair bit of expectation placed on us early in the year after we put those few wins together. It’s a little bit disappointing to finish where we did in my view, but it was pretty close,” Rowlandson, the Tigers’ captain-coach, said.
“Playing at home is a good reward for the effort that everyone has put in. We will have a big crowd now we finally have a home semi-final – even if Mudgee only bring five people over, it is still going to be full.”
Having dealt with injuries and suspension for much of the second half of the season, the Tigers will have a full strength squad to face the Dragons including all three Rose brothers – George, Matt and Trent.
It is something which gives Rowlandson hope given the last time the rivals met they drew 26-all.
“Having a full bench and a full squad is good psychologically going into semis. I think we are going to need it to get all the way through,” Rowlandson said.
The game will kick-off at 1.45pm, with the CYMS versus Hawks league tag to open the day at 10am.
