ON the limited occasions that the CSU forward pack has had the chance to play with contested scrums in the Ferguson Cup competition this season, they've shown they have both strength and power.
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But now as the finals in the Central West Rugby Union women's competition loom, coach Dom Huggett is thinking about another way to deploy that strength and power.
Strange as it may sound, he is drawing inspiration from a moment his team conceded a penalty try and had a player yellow carded.
"When we played Mudgee they did a maul, they took a tap near the line and did a maul and none of our girls knew what to do because no-one really mauls in the women's comp," Huggett said.
"They got penalty try for a collapsed scrum.
"It shows that we've got to learn how to maul and get the right people in, because I think we can definitely use that. I think it's something that would work for us for sure."
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Any chance CSU has to use its strong forward pack - led by skipper Rachel Brown - to advantage could prove a critical factor.
With two rounds of the regular season remaining, the currently second placed students are assured a spot on this year's finals series.
But just where on the ladder they will end up is by no means assured.
They could potentially end up as minor premiers given current leaders Orange Emus are just three points ahead of them on the ladder.
But CSU could also slip down a rung as West Wyalong trails them by one point and Bathurst Bulldogs by two points.
Emus, Bulldogs and West Wyalong all have better points differentials as well.
The goal Huggett has set his players is naturally to win both their remaining games - at home against Narromine then away to Forbes - but making sure they earn a bonus point as well.
"We certainly need at least one bonus point win," he said.
"Narromine, we want to be winning that one because we lost against them earlier. Then travelling to Forbes, that will be a tough game, but I really think we can get that win and that will give us a lot of confidence going into semis."
