MATESHIP, digging in, triumphing over adversity and doing whatever it takes to succeed – Group 10 Rugby League clashes between Bathurst Panthers and St Pat’s are always fiercely contested due to those qualities shown by the men who take part.
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But come this Friday night, the players will have added motivation to display such qualities. For the first time, Panthers and St Pat’s will be playing for the ANZAC Day Rugby League Memorial Trophy.
Panthers players will also be wearing special ANZAC football jumpers, emblazoned with the rising sun logo, silhouettes of soldiers and the Australian flag.
According to Bathurst RSL Sub Branch president David Mills, the contest between the two football clubs is a perfect way to reflect the spirit for which Australian troops are renowned.
He and his fellow Sub Branch members were delighted to get behind the concept.
“What this trophy really depicts is the spirit of ANZAC, and what we believe is it is alive and well in the community and probably nowhere more so than on the sporting field,” he said.
“You can have two teams go full on for 80 minutes, no quarter given, no quarter asked for, yet at the end of the day they can go and have a beer.
“We thought how appropriate to commemorate that. It is also the 100 year anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and this trophy is going to be perpetual, so hopefully in 100 years time this will still be around.”
The Panthers will do battle on their home soil at Carrington Park on Friday night and having opened their 2015 campaign with defeats against Blayney and Cowra, they will start as underdogs.
Trying to get their new combinations to gel and trump the defending premiers will not be an easy task, but premier league manager Danny Dwyer is hoping the occasion will inspire the Panthers.
“It’s a good opportunity for the boys to redeem themselves after the first two weeks – they played some pretty ordinary football. Friday night is a chance to put that all behind them,” he said.
“Everyone is understanding of the ANZAC tradition and the ANZAC spirit and it is something the boys can relate to and I am sure both teams on Friday, when they step on the paddock, they will put on a great game.
“It was a great opportunity for the club to get a little bit closer to ANZAC Day and the jumpers are a nice touch.”
Though Dwyer naturally wants Bathurst Panthers to be the first to have their name engraved on the trophy, he is also looking forward to building an ANZAC tradition with Pat’s in the years to come.
“Pat’s have really bought into it, as well as us, and hopefully this will become a really good ANZAC Day fixture,” he said.
“You look at the NRL – the Easts-St George ANZAC clash has always been a good one. It’s a traditional game and one of those everyone looks forward to watching even if they don’t follow one of those two sides.”
St Pat’s coach Kurt Hancock shares Dwyer’s sentiment in building the clash between the pair into a highlight of the regular Group 10 season.
“I hope this trophy is here for the rest of the time Group 10 is going around,” he said.
“It is a good cause obviously to remember the people who have gone before us. It is always special playing against Panthers, but this certainly makes it that bit more special; it adds to the theatre.
“It’s a game where I know Panthers have been struggling a bit, so they are going to use it for a bit of added motivation, to get themselves up.
“But I know we weren’t the best [in beating Oberon 22-20], so we will use it as motivation as well. I think everyone will be looking forward to it.”
The action on Friday night at Carrington Park will begin with under 18s at 5.15pm. League tag (6.30pm) and first division (7.30pm) games will follow before the premier league teams do battle for the trophy from 8.50pm.
