The Wombats need to win all three of their next matches – against Bathurst, Narromine and Parkes – to stay in contention in the Blowes Clothing Cup. 

Coach Neil McDonald the side for the Jubilee Oval game is not yet finalised, with some players unavailable due to injuries, but the Wombats have the calibre of players to call up a strong side.

“We have got to be strong against Bathurst, because they are at the top of the ladder,” he said. 

The Wombats lost by a narrow 23-19  to Bathurst in their previous meeting at the Bulldogs’ home ground but McDonald was confident of the Wombats’ chances the second time around. 

“We know what we have to do to beat them,’ he said.  “It’s up to the boys to put the systems in place and make sure we beat them.” 

In the wake of their 76-5 loss to the Dubbo Kangaroos on Saturday, McDonald said the Wombats were working on defence. 

But he said a better indication of the Wombat’s abilities was their game against the Orange Emus earlier this month. 

“I was quite happy with with our strength against them and if we do the same again against Bathurst, I’m confident we can do all right,” he said. 

McDonald said he hoped for good crowd support for the Wombats’ second last home game of the season, which will include a full day of junior matches and the annual Ladies Day. 

The Bathurst Bulldogs have not taken the field since July 2 due to rain, a bye and an opponent forfeiting. 

However, Bulldogs co-coach Brian Roberson said his team have managed to still keep their fitness up thanks to an uninterrupted training program.

“It’s not an ideal lead up to what we consider to be one of the crunch games at this end of the season against Mudgee. It is what it is though,” he said.

Roberson believes his side can learn a lot about what not to do from that previous encounter.

“They played a spoiling game then we lowered ourselves to the manner the match was being played. That let Mudgee back into the game. That’s all water under the bridge now,” he said.

“We’ve done a lot of work on getting control back into the game and have done lots of work also on the breakdown.”

Ladies Day

The annual Ladies Day will be held at Jubilee on Saturday from 12.30pm.   Held to thank families, partners and supporters, the day will include an auction of sports items including a signed 2016 Brumbies jersey, signed 2016 Titans jersey, Paspaley pearls, and a golf ball signed by Adam Scott. 

Admission is free for all ladies.  Organisers ask only for a donation and support for raffles.  Money raised at this year’s Ladies Day will go to Hearts of Union, a not-for-profit organisation which assists players who have suffered severe spinal injuries.