GPS hosts 'Dogs for annual challenge
Wooden spooners Wests will look to finish their horrid season on a high when they take on a red-hot GPS outfit in the annual Hammond-Taylor challenge at Yoku Rd on Saturday (kickoff 3pm).
The Bulldogs have gone from grand-final victors to last place in the space of two years, with their sole victory in Trinity Premier Rugby this season coming in round five against the Gold Coast.
Retaining the shield they won last year will at least give them one memento for the season. They should also be lifted by the presence of QR Reds Hugh McMeniman, Scott Higginbotham and Poutasi Luafutu, combining at the 'Dogs for the first time this year.
While only winning once this year, Wests have remained competitive in a majority of matches with a league high seven bonus points for losing by seven points or less.
Their season was summed up two rounds prior, where Norths stole victory with a penalty try after the siren, leaving the Bulldogs heartbroken after their most spirited display of the season.
Wests had another opportunity to move out of last position in last weekend’s clash against University, but a poor showing and a 50-24 defeat led to a post-match roasting from coach David Witt.
“It was our worst performance in three years,” Witt said.
“I think Norths probably broke us, to be honest. To lose that way after the bell took a lot out of them. It was pretty hard to get them up again.”
With wet weather predicted for the rest of the week, Witt can enter the game confident as he fields his most dominant forward pack of the year.
“We’ll play to our strengths and play a very forward orientated game. We probably have the best forward pack in the competition this week,” he said.
However Wests' problems go deeper than their inconsistent on-field performances, with Witt having to endure another disrupted week with limited training facilities.
“Part of the reason we’re struggling is that we are only able to train one day a week because of our oval,” he said.
“It’s something that’s really affecting the club as a whole."
In their last encounter GPS outmuscled the Bulldogs 44-25 and, despite the added pressure of a potential minor semi-final position, they're maintaining the confidence that has kept them in the hunt since round 10.
The Gallopers have won seven straight since that time, including defeating second placed Easts 30-13 last weekend.
Coach Mick Heenan also knows his side’s strikepower isn't diminished in wet weather after their 48-7 drubbing of Norths in ghastly conditions.
“Mentally I don’t think there will be a problem as a win this week will get us into the finals. That’s all the motivation we need,” he said.
“They’ve (Wests) probably got their best team of the season on paper out on the paddock this weekend so it’s going to be tough.”
A sudden death clash between Sunnybank and GPS waits if both teams are successful this week, but Heenan has put that prospect to one side for now.
"We’re not even thinking about Sunnybank. I mean Sunnybank haven’t made the four yet either so we’ll worry about finals if we win,” he said.
