After more than four yearwithout a win the Blayney Bears have grizzled their way to three straight victories to open the 2021 Group 10 Reserve Grade season, rocketing to the top of the table in the process.
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The Bears' victory over Orange CYMS in last month's season-opener brought an end to a winless run that spanned 1,729 days, dating back to their 14-10 win over Oberon in the penultimate round of 2016.
But more importantly, as captain-coach Lochie Hobby said, the former cellar-dwellers backed that up with two more wins over Cowra (28-16) in round two and then Lithgow Workies (32-12) on Sunday afternoon.
Some of the guys had never won a game for the Bears at all so there's a really good feeling around the club.
- Blayney Bears captain-coach Lochie Hobby
"It's been really great, some of the guys had never won a game for the Bears at all so there's a really good feeling around the club," Hobby, who shares mentoring duties with Ryley Oborn, said.
"The club had been struggling as a whole for a few years, outside the league tag team who have held us together really, so it's been pretty exciting for the (men's side) to win, but also back up that round one win.
"I said to Ryley after the first win the next couple of games were more important now, because it's all well and good to win one but we needed to be continuing that."
In fact he'd earmarked Sunday's trip to Lithgow's Tony Luchetti Sportsground as his Bears' most-important game of the season so far, leading in he'd expected it to be their toughest as well.
"It was bloody tough too, it always is in Lithgow," Hobby said.
"We started well and had a good first half but it got a bit scrappy after that for us and Lithgow picked up in the second half, they actually won the second half.
"We defended well again though, we dug in on our own line and held them out. Our defensive efforts are something we've been really happy with so far in all three games too."
The Bears' work with the ball, though, has left a little to be desired at times, particularly their handling.
Granted, it's far from panic stations considering their results but Hobby said he and Oborn both think there's plenty of improvement left in their side.
"We aren't going to get ahead of ourselves, but we definitely have plenty of improvement to make as the season goes on," Hobby said.
The Bears will enjoy a couple of weeks off for the top grade's Magic Round at Mudgee's Glen Willow Sporting Complex on Saturday, before a general bye after that. They'll host Bathurst St Pat's in their next game on May 30.
Considering the form they've been in, you could forgive Hobby for lamenting the two-week break and the momentum shift it could cause, but he said he's hopeful it won't impact his side.
"I don't think it'll worry us too much, we'll use the break as a chance to refresh then get everyone back to training and getting stuck in again," he said.
The Bears' league tag side also downed Lithgow on Sunday afternoon, winning 10-6 in a nail-biter to pick up their second win from three starts.
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