Forbes Magpies rake Campbell Woolnough will make his return from injury in Western’s must-win Laurie Daley Cup clash with Monaro on Saturday.
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The Rams head south for the round four fixture against the Colts after a last-round, six-point loss to the Illawarra South Coast.
The 26-20 defeat was Western’s first of the under 18s country championship but an extremely congested southern pool means Paul McDonald’s Rams are in danger of missing out on the top two if Saturday’s trip to Harden doesn’t bear competition points.
Western is currently fifth with three points but all four teams ahead of the Rams are within striking distance.
Riverina (first, four points), Monaro (second, four points), Illawarra (third, four points) and Penrith (fourth, three points) make-up the top four.
A win over Monaro and then another victory over the last-placed Greater Southern Region Wests Tigers could catapult Western into a finals position.
Woolnough’s return is a timely one as the Rams look to mount a bid for the top two, a race McDonald knows is extremely close.
“It certainly is, if we win (last week against Illawarra South Coast Dragons) we’re into first, by losing we’re equal third,” he said heading into the clash with Monaro, a region that draws on the Canberra area.
“There’s only two games left, if we don’t win then we’re out. I hope we can continue to improve.”
The Rams under 18s kick-off at 12.45pm at Roberts Park.
- WESTERN 18s: 1 Benjamin Glasheen (Parkes Spaceman), 2 Denis Spathis (Condobolin Rams), 3 Brock Naden (Wellington Cowboys), 4 Coopa Martin (Forbes Magpies), 5 Zarrin Galea (Dubbo CYMS), 6 Harry Blake (Nyngan Tigers), 7 Josh Board (Orange CYMS), 8 Colby Peckham (Dubbo CYMS), 9 Paddy Haycock (Dubbo CYMS), 10 Nick Barlow (Bathurst Panthers), 11 Thomas Stimpson (Dubbo CYMS), 12 Bradley Fearnley (Bathurst Panthers), 13 Luke Bain (C) (Bathurst Panthers); Bench: 14 Campbell Woolnough (Forbes Magpies), 15 Aaron Mawhinney (Forbes Magpies), 16 Nick Booth (Bathurst St Pat’s), 17 Tyrone Harrison (Orange CYMS), 18 Nathan Swain (Orange CYMS).