TO say that the Bathurst Panthers need to improve coming into today’s second round of Group 10 premier league against the Cowra Magpies would be an understatement.
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The Panthers didn’t send sparks flying – in fact, there was little light to be seen – as they were defeated 44-22 by the Blayney Bears at Bathurst last Sunday.
And things don’t get any easier for the Panthers as they travel to play last year’s grand finalists the Magpies at Sid Kallas Oval.
Panthers and Cowra shared the wins in last season’s meetings, the home side prevailing on each occasion.
Defeating the Magpies today will require football several levels above what the Panthers produced in round one.
“As much as Todd [Barrow, coach] has made it clear that it’s in the past, it’s certainly in the back of their minds. We let ourselves down in key areas,” team manager Danny Dwyer said.
“We had a lot of unforced errors and a lot of missed tackles that crept into our game. You can’t take anything away from Blayney, though. We only had 37 per cent of the ball in the last half and that really put us under pressure.
“The disappointing thing is that for a first round game we lacked enthusiasm. It was the little things like last year you’d have your mates covering for you and coming to help in defence when the ball got low.”
Dwyer believes the Magpies will be bursting with confidence despite going down narrowly to Lithgow Workies in the opening round.
“The away trip to Cowra is one of the longer and toughest ones to make in Group 10. They played well against Workies, who are a better side this year, and will take a lot out of only going down by four,” he said.
“Ronnie Lawrence is one of the best forwards in the Group. Warren Williams can be very hard to defend and he’s back this week and the Tidswell boys [Hayden and Brendan] come highly recommended.”
There’s been plenty of shuffling going on with the Panthers starting side after the round one performance.
In the biggest change, Sandon Gibbs-O’Neill will start at five-eighth and Matt Woolmington will be on interchange.
Barrow returns to the side from a calf injury to take his place in the second row, putting Jed Betts on the bench.
Jay McClintock pushes out to the wing to make way for last week’s interchange player Jason Hewitt to make a start in the centres.
BATHURST PANTHERS: 1 Brayden Cassidy, 2 Josh Small, 3 Blake Lawson, 4 Jason Hewitt, 5 Jay McClintock, 6 Sandon Gibbs-O’Neill, 7 Joey Bugg, 8 Brent Seager, 9 Luke Carpenter, 10 Greg Behan, 11 Max Wolfson, 12 Todd Barrow, 13 Jake Betts, 14 Matt Woolmington, 15 Jed Betts, 16 Ben Gunn, 17 Aaron Bell
