St Pat's prepare to face unbeaten Oberon Tigers at Sportsground

When Pat’s play host to the Tigers at the Sportsground this Saturday they will be repeating the circumstances around 2016’s first fixture between the two clubs.

Tigers travelled to Bathurst unbeaten in round eight last year to face the Saints, and arrive for the match up this year also without a loss to their name.

However, Pat’s stopped Oberon’s streak with a 28-24 victory in 2016.

The question now is whether history can repeat itself.

“We were in a similar situation last year when we had to play them as an unbeaten side, and we knocked them off,” Pat’s coach Kurt Hancock said.

“I’ve played a lot of footy against [Oberon coach] Luke Branighan and he’s a smart operator. I’m sure he’s got something planned for us.

“Like us, their edges are strong and we’ve both been very good through the middle. Our middle really hasn’t been dominated, except in the match against CYMS. We didn’t have Greg Behan or McCoy White for that match though.”

However, the major difference between last year’s meeting and this Saturday’s is that Pat’s are still searching for their first win.

Pat’s have arguably been handed the Mount Everest of season starts.

Including the Oberon match, St Pat’s will have played all four fellow 2016 finalists over their opening four games.

Orange CYMS, Mudgee Dragons and Bathurst Panthers have all seen off the Saints.

Despite some moments of promise in those tough fixtures the Saints have nothing to show for their efforts.

“I know it’s zero from three for us but I feel that we match up well against Oberon. We’ve had a good couple of weeks to prepare for this one,” Hancock said.

“It’s going to be great to be back at the Sportsground after a few games away. The attitude in the team is good as well, but we’ve got to start turning that into points.

“I’ve been trying to instil into the guys that playing to structure only gets you so far, and that you’ve got to take that next step sometimes and back yourself.

“If we can dominate them in the middle and take them away from their edges then we will do well.”

Pat’s five-eighth Garry Reilly is almost back to being fully fit while hooker Benjamin John is confirmed to be one week away from playing.

“For the three years I’ve been here we’ve often relied on those two individuals to come up with the plays. They have that individual brilliance and can create something out of nothing. The team has to learn how to create the chances without them,” Hancock said.

Tigers come into the game off a 21-14 win over defending premiers Dragons.

Branighan was the hero of the day for Oberon with his field goal and converted try inside the final five minutes.

Spectators could be in for a treat judging by the most recent Pat’s-Tigers match.

Following the Saints’ big win against the Tigers they faced off again in August last year, playing out a 26-all draw.

This Saturday’s premier league match gets underway from 3pm.