IT’S a long season when more than six months of hard work comes down to one game, but Orange Hawks must beat Lithgow to avoid this year’s dreaded wooden spoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“Nobody wants that,” Hawks president Frank Sheehan said.
“I’m confident the boys can get the win. They’ve been training well and they’re ready to perform. We don’t want to finish with that spoon.”
Hawks defeated Lithgow in the two sides only other meeting through this year’s Group 10 premier league premiership in May.
Throughout the 38-32 two blues win, both sides dished up the sort of football only teams anchored to the bottom of the ladder can muster.
Errors, spectacular tries, five fumbled kick-offs, 40-20s, and goal-line drop outs that find touch, it was a strange contest.
But the other feature of the game was the forward battle, with Hawks prop Sam Sotogi dueling with Workies’ behemoth Western Rams backrower Brenden West.
West got the chocolates that day, scoring a remarkable double but Sheehan was confident of big Sam one-upping his opposite number in Lithgow on Sunday.
“If Sam goes well and keeps getting that ball forward then I think the boys will win and win well,” he added.
“We’ve got a couple of winnable games against Lithgow and then Cowra to end the year, so the team is looking to finish on a brighter note.
Also in action in Lithgow on Sunday will be the two blues’ league tag side, one gunning for a finals berth in two weeks time.
To secure that spot, Hawks need two wins against Lithgow and Cowra – the former having just won one game throughout 2016 while the latter is the one side that can usurp the two blues for that final top five spot.
Sheehan said the Hawks league tag side was determined to clinch its place in the finals.
“Two really big weeks coming up for the girls, who have been going fantastically well,” the two blues boss said.
“They’ve really played some great footy. They beat CYMS for the first time a couple of weeks ago and were unlucky not to beat Blayney in a catch-up game last week.
“I’d fully expect them to get the win over Lithgow on Sunday and then it should come down to the Cowra game the week after.
“I think they’ll win both. I really do. And once they’re in the finals, as you know, anything can happen.”
Hawks plays Lithgow in premier league and league tag at Tony Luchetti Sportsground on Sunday, league tag kicks off at 11.30am.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
