Canowindra Tigers launch their Woodbridge Cup finals campaign this weekend with first grade making a road trip to Oberon to take on their Tigers.
Our first grade side locked into fourth on the ladder at the end of the regular season, finishing with a bye in the final round, and will take on the ladder leaders in the qualifying semi-final on Sunday.
Canowindra’s league tag side takes on Grenfell in a must-win semi-final at the same venue, with kick off scheduled for 12.40pm.
Canowindra and Grenfell finished sixth and seventh on the league tag ladder with 17 points apiece, but Canowindra did dominate their Round 8 meet-up with a 14-24 win at the Goannas’ home ground.
The main grade is scheduled for kick off at 2pm, to cap what will be a very full day of footy at the Oberon oval.
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They’ll host back-to-back youth league games from 10am, the first between Orange United and Blayney, the second between Molong and Eugowra.
Meanwhile the young Tigers are heading to Jack Huxley Oval to take on Manildra in the Youth League, with their match scheduled for 10am there.
Canowindra’s 18s are also in a must-win situation at the start of the semi-finals in this grade after finishing sixth on the regular competition ladder, on equal points with the young Rhinos who were placed seventh.
First grade captain Ronald Lawrence is pleased with the way his side has been building to this point of the season.
"We had a bit of a slow start to the season but we're starting to play some good football at the moment which is positive," he said.
Injury and work commitments do affect availability this weekend, but Lawrence is happy with the depth in the squad.
Lining up against Oberon's big forward pack, Canowindra's front rowers will be leading the way for the Tigers in the semi-final.
"Our two front rowers Louie Dwyer and Anthony Gaeta have both been playing some good footy and putting in some big minutes as well," Lawrence said.
The two sides haven't met since fairly early this season, so Lawrence is looking forward to a good game.
"They're obviously the bench mark team: they only lost their first team and they've won everything else," Lawrence said.
If Oberon does triumph, the Tigers will get another crack at the finals the following weekend.
Woodbridge Cup rugby league action returns to Canowindra on 31 August, when the grand finals come to Tom Clyburn Oval.
"(It would) obviously be pretty unreal to play at your home grand final but it's a long way away and we'll just take it a week at a time," Lawrence said.
