Pace across the park will be paramount for the Wolves as they look to try to take down the only side that has yet to stand toe-to-toe with them, Bathurst Colts.
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Perennial high-flyers of the division, Colts are set to give the Wolves their strongest test of the season.
However, Mudgee are full of confidence after their excellent double-header weekend away in which they recorded two wins. The team’s attack was on fire, adding eight goals to their season’s tally.
The team wasn’t able to train on Tuesday night, due to closure of fields at Glen Willow, but this might be a blessing in disguise, according to Craig Mitchell, after the side played 180 minutes last weekend.
Mitchell said the team was able to finally scout Colts last weekend, adding he was impressed with their standard of play.
“It’s a test for us because it’s the seventh team we’ve come up against and we’d set ourselves a mini goal to go through the first round undefeated,” Mitchell said.
“We finally got to see a bit of them in action because they played on the pitch next to us on Sunday.
“They looked to keep the ball, just as we like to do, so they are going to be a challenge.”
Continuing the momentum gained from last weekend’s victories is key for the side as they look to set their own pace to the season.
However, with a close to full-strength side set to travel to Bathurst, Mitchell said the side was confident of interrupting the flow of a Colts side that plays a similar style of game to the Wolves.
“Our speed is a huge benefit to us, with the likes of James Ford, Brad and Jamie Golden, Matt Cremona and Daniel Lowe,” Mitchell said when asked where the side will excel.
“So we will try and use our speed to advantage where we can on the weekend.
“And something else we have been trying to start doing more and that’s defending from the front so we can hopefully break up a few attacks before they get going and maybe upset them at the back they’ll soon to start hitting balls long.
“Then they’ll be playing into 50-50 challenges and that’s where we have been playing extremely well at the back.”
The Mudgee Wolves first grade side will tackle the Colts from 1pm at Proctor Park on Sunday with the club’s other sides also in action this weekend.
Second grade will lock horns with Bathurst Athletic while the women’s team will look to take down Kinross Wolaroi in Orange with kick-off on Sunday at 11am.