THE Bowraville Tigers’ senior rugby league team has earned a start in the preliminary final of the Hastings District Rugby League competition after defeating Lower Macleay in a hard-fought victory.
They now take on Lake Cathie this Saturday, 19 September, at Lake Cathie.
Coach Karl Spear is daring to dream, as the club is only one victory away from its first-ever grand final in the Hastings League.
He, and others at the club, are confident that if players put their best football on the field, they can beat anyone in the competition.
Coach Spear said the club had overcome numerous challenges to reach the final series.
“I have never coached a team that has had to push the amount of adversity we have this season,” Spear said.
The first thing they encountered was an unfavourable draw.
“In 14 competition games we only had five at home,” Spear said, “and due to only being in the competition for three years we are not yet eligible to host semi-finals.
“So all our finals games are away from home also.”
Throughout the season the first-grade squad has also been repeatedly wracked by an unprecedented level of injury.
“Add [the draw] on top of the most crippling injury toll during a season I have ever witnessed,” Spear said.
“We have not once put the same team on the field two games in a row, and out of our 28 registered players at one stage we had only 16 players fit and healthy.
“It’s an absolute credit to the players that we are still alive in this competition.”
The spectre of injury followed the team into last week’s preliminary final.
“We have now lost inspirational captain Andrew Welsh to a knee injury,” Spear said.
“We will re-group and sort out a plan to cover that loss, and go again this Saturday.”
Spear said he thought that a lot of the stronger Southern teams in the competition had been mindful of the Tigers’ potential throughout the season.
They were aware of the threat that could be unleashed, were the club able to field somewhere near its top team on a regular basis.
“And, despite the injury toll, here we are, one victory away from a momentous occasion – being the first Bowraville side to play in a Hastings District Rugby League grand final,” Spear said.
“We are under no illusions that this weekend won’t be tough.
“Lake Cathie are a very talented outfit, and we have to play them on their home ground in front of their passionate supporters.
“But we are up for the challenge.”
The club has organised a supporters’ bus to carry fans to and from the Lake Cathie ground. The bus will depart Bowra RSL at 11:15am and Macksville Ampol at 11:30am. The cost is $25, which includes entry to the ground. Bookings and pre-payment are essential. Call Danny on 6564 7304 ASAP.
By Eve NESMITH
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