RUGBY UNION
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THE Blayney Rams would have to be the shortest price favourite to claim a premiership of any form in the Central West this season, but co-coach Brock Syphers says his playing group is anything but complacent.
And there’s a pretty good reason why.
In 2013 Blayney enjoyed an undefeated season, easily lapped up victory in the major semi-final but then torturously suffered an 18-17 grand final loss to Molong - ending a remarkable 31-game winning stretch in the most heartbreaking fashion.
Then last year, too, there was more.
Blayney led Molong up until the final seconds in a 29-26 decider loss - heartbreak again.
This year the Rams went through the 2015 GrainCorp Cup southern division undefeated and just three weeks ago beat the second-placed West Wyalong Weevils 74-nil at King George Oval, surely leading even the most conservative punter to place the Rams at untouchable premiership odds.
Not Syphers, though.
“A lot of the boys in this team were part of that [2013] side,” Syphers said.
“We know what it’s like to go through the season undefeated and then lose the grand final, and knowing that I’m pretty confident we won’t be taking anyone lightly in the finals.”
By virtue of being the best side in the regular season, the Rams will enjoy this Saturday off as Molong hosts Canowindra in the elimination semi-final tomorrow and the Weevils welcome Condobolin at West Wyalong on Sunday in the qualifying semi-final.
The Rams will play either the Weevils or Condobolin the week after.
But, with an attack that’s netted 117 more points than the next best southern side, and a defence that’s leaked 107 fewer points than the next stingiest wall, it’s going to take a monumental effort to knock off Blayney in 2015.
Seb Hobby, Josh Farr, James Stanbridge and Stuart Tait have all been leading the charge.
Given that, the biggest challenge, naturally, will come from within.
“Honestly, I think at the moment it’s ourselves,” Syphers said when predicting his side’s biggest obstacle.
“But this year I think we’ve got a really good team, one of the best I’ve been part of.”
IF Molong is to win three straight GrainCorp Cup southern division titles in 2015, they Magpies are going to have to do it the hard way.
The two-time defending premiers finished the regular season in fourth place and tomorrow will tackle the fifth-placed Canowindra Pythons in a tough, elimination semi-final clash at the Dr Ross Memorial Recreation Ground in Molong.
Boasting a largely different squad to the one that tasted dual premiership victories, the Maggies finished with a six wins and six losses record from 12 regular season rounds in 2015.
If successful in accounting for the Pythons, Molong then face tough trips to Condobolin, West Wyalong and Blayney in order to win this year’s title.
nick.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au