In a test of Bathurst Goldminers’ Waratah Youth League division two play-off aspirations, they will play a double header against Camden Valley Wildfire and Blacktown Storm this Saturday and Sunday respectively.
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Goldminers’ match against Camden is set to be a cracker, with the Bathurst-based team ranked seventh, while the Wildfire are sitting in a play-off spot in sixth.
A win for either side would cement their position in the play-offs, with the loser having to play catch up if they want to be in the mix come the pointy end of the season.
Goldminers coach Andrew Osborn knows how important it is to get a win over Camden.
“We’ve got two very important games ahead of us,” he said.
“Camden have a pretty strong side then what we would’ve picked but if we can play like we did on the weekend, we have a strong chance against them.
“We’ve been working on tweeking a few things, particularly our defence.
“Against Springwood [last Saturday] we worked on playing on the man.
“We’ll try and slow Camden down and force them into a passing game.”
Camden have played 14 games and have won nine, while Goldminers have won eight from 13 starts.
The teams are separated by games won percentage, with just 2.75 per cent between both teams.
Goldminers will play Camden at the Bathurst Indoor Sports Stadium at 6pm on Saturday.
We’ve got two very important games ahead of us.
- Bathurst Goldminers coach Andrew Osborn
That will be followed by a match against the lowly Blacktown Storm at midday on Sunday.
Blacktown are currently sitting in 16th, out of a total of 18 teams, with just two wins from 14 games.
On paper it looks like an easy win for Goldminers.
However, much like the game against Springwood the following weekend, the team will be focused on not becoming complacent.
“They’re down towards the bottom end of the ladder,” Osborn said.
“I actually know quite a few of the boys in the Blacktown team because I coached them when they were at Stannies.
“We know what they’re like and their weaknesses, so I’m confident we can get a win,” he said.
“We just know what we have to do across the two games.
“We’re knocking on the door and a win over Camden will get us in the top six.”
Goldminers will have to play just seven more games after this weekend, to end the regular season.
Four of those seven games will be played at home.
Matt Gray, who played his last game for the club last month, still leads the way in the most match points of the season with 387.