Kurt Hancock is banking on his Western Rams under 16s learning from their last game defeat when they face the Newcastle Rebels in Saturday’s Country Championship semi-finals.
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The 16s coach wasn’t impressed with his team’s attack in its 20-6 loss to the Bidgee Bulls at Parkes’ Jock Colley Field, with constant errors making it near-impossible for his side to play with any real consistency.
But with a home crowd at Bathurst’s Carrington Park behind them Hancock is confident the Rams can bounce back.
“Newcastle have got a lot of players who were in the extended squad for Harold Matthews, so they’ve had six weeks of training before Christmas,” Hancock said.
“I feel like we match up really well with them but it’s all about getting the right attitude for this game.
“We had close to 18 errors in our last match, and the two before that would have had only nine or so combined.
“Ben Glasheen has been fantastic for us at fullback when we’ve been able to get him into the game, but we couldn’t do that last weekend.
“Of our errors 10 or so were inside our own 30 so there’s another 60 tackles we’ve had to do close to our line.
“We hung in there for the first half but all that left us with nothing in the tank for the second half. Hopefully we get things working again this game.”
If the Rams are to lift and score a win over the Newcastle powerhouse, halves Harry Blake and St John’s young gun James ‘Busta’ Nelson will need time with the ball in their hand.
And if that is to happen, the forwards need to lay a platform.
“Our boys from eight through to 13 need to step up,” Hancock said.
“If we don’t do that then we aren’t going to create enough opportunities.”
Dubbo will again be heavily represented with Nelson joined by fellow St John’s talents Aiden Lake, Thomas Stimpson and Jarred Peachey, who impressed when coming off the bench last weekend.
Orange CYMS’ Josh Piper and Blayney’s Dylan Marmion will also play.
The under-16 semi-final kicks off at Carrington Park at 12.50pm.