DIVIDE and conquer - that will be the plan for CSU this weekend as the students look to build on what has already been one of their most successful Central West Rugby Union campaigns.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Each of CSU's three teams - the first and second grade New Holland Cup outfits and the women's Ferguson Cup side - have qualified for this year's final series.
It is the first time since 2012 that every CSU team will play finals rugby. That season the students qualified in firsts, seconds, thirds, colts and women's.
This Saturday CSU's first grade side will tackle defending premiers Narromine at Cale Oval in the major semi-final, while earlier in the day the women will be fighting for Ferguson Cup survival against Mudgee at Molong.
The second grade CSU side faces Dubbo Rhinos in Sunday's minor semi-final at Jubilee Oval, Mudgee.
"When did we last have all grades in the finals? I wouldn't know actually to be honest," CSU secretary Lachlan Harper said.
"It's going to be a big weekend - we are all split up. Going to Narromine is always tough, in second grade we've got to go to Mudgee against Dubbo and that will be really tough, because we lost our last game to Dubbo [37-5].
"Being on Sunday hopefully we can get a full strength team to play and if we do that, we can beat anyone I think.
"The girls are at Molong and I think they've got Bridie Gordon back this week, so that will help them."
READ MORE: Cohesion will be important for Bulldogs
READ MORE: Stannies posts a vital win over St Pius
Just as Harper couldn't recall when CSU last qualified each of its teams for a Central West finals series - not surprising given he was still at high school - he can't remember when the students last played a home final.
"I think this will be the first time we have a final at home in a long while too. If first grade lose we have a home semi and obviously if they win, it's a home grand final," he said.
"I can't remember the last time we had a home final."
In 2010 CSU was set to host Dubbo Kangaroos at Diggings Oval in an elimination final, but heavy rain saw the fixture moved to Orange.
It was 2009 when the students last hosted a final at University Oval and on that afternoon, despite leading Forbes 28-18 with less than four minutes remaining, CSU went down 34-28 to exit the title hunt.
That year CSU's first XV played in one tier, 10-team competition. Now the students are part of the second-tier New Holland Cup, one which was formed in 2018 to help smaller clubs be more competitive.
Harper feels the split has certainly done that and he's hoping this season will end with a premiership.
"I think it was the best thing, well for CSU anyway. It has allowed us to have more success and more success means more players come along and the crowds get bigger," he said.
Are you a Western Advocate subscriber? Then why not CLICK HERE and join our new Central West Sports Subscribers Facebook group?
"It's a good culture when everyone is winning games. Everyone is mates with each other and the women are doing really well too - which is a big bonus.
"We are just going one week at the time, sometimes second grade don't know who's going to turn up and the girls have had some pretty big outs.
"First grade are doing so well, we know they are probably our best chance of winning a grand final, but we'll just take it week by week."
