WHEN it comes to the Blowes Clothing Cup the Bathurst Bulldogs have certainly made Ashwood Park a fortress with 23 consecutive wins, but this Saturday there is at least one man who feels the stronghold will be breached.
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It is Red Dog Rugby Club president Mickey Palmer.
Palmer is the man who organises the now annual Building Durability Bathurst Rugby 10s tournament at Ashwood Park.
Since the tournament began in 2016 the Bathurst Bulldogs have had the better of the Red Dog outfit, but Palmer feels that dominance will end come Saturday.
"If there was ever a team from Red Dogs to take Bulldogs out, then it's this year," he said.
"Bulldogs should open every kennel because the Red Dogs have got bleeding gums ready for revenge from three years of losses in finals.
"We have heavily recruited to correct this and we look forward to taking the plate, if not the cup for the first time ever."
Palmer said the Red Dog line up will boast some surprise inclusions as well as "seven or eight players coming from Sydney who have played in grand final winning teams in Sydney comps."
Watch out Bulldogs, just because it's your home ground doesn't mean it gives you any advantage.
- Mickey Palmer
But it is not just the Bulldogs men who will have a target on them this Saturday.
Palmer said the Bulldogs women's team - who took out the inaugural edition of the women's 10s competition last October - will have some very determined rivals as well.
"The Wollongong women's side have verbally instructed me that their sole intention is to smash the Bulldogs women," Palmer said.
"Watch out Bulldogs, just because it's your home ground doesn't mean it gives you any advantage. This is fast-paced, good fun exciting rugby."
Rivalry between dogs aside, Palmer feels there might be some new contenders for this year's men's cup final.
Newcastle Wanderers will not be back to defend their crown, while the Eastern Suburbs outfit which won in 2016 and 2017 and were runners-up last year will be without inspirational skipper Beau Jones.
"Easts in years past have been very competitive, but this year I think they will be somewhat of a social team without their leader. Without the driving force of captain Beau, it would seem they are just making up the numbers," Palmer said.
"I think Illawarra Ibis men's will be a force to be reckoned with and will be dangerous.
"The Beer and Ball Runners are a team from Bathurst who we've been told have sourced players from around the Central West and if I was a betting man, I'd put a cheeky pineapple on them to be in the final, if not take it out, because they are an unknown dark horse.
"I'm excited to see what they bring to the tournament."
Spectators are welcome to come and take in the action at Ashwood Park from 11am.
There will also be a post-match function at the Panorama Hotel which will see a bottle of Penfolds Grange raffled off and auction of a framed and signed 2019 Waratahs jersey. The money raised will go to the Kids With Cancer Foundation.
