RUGBY LEAGUE
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BLAYNEY captain-coach Dane Howarth says his side’s discipline will have to be exceptional if the Bears are to continue their fairy-tale run throughout the Group 10 finals series on Sunday.
The maroon and whites will travel to Mudgee’s Glen Willow to face the massive Dragons in the premiership’s minor semi-final.
It’s do-or-die for both sides.
And Howarth believes with the Bears entering the clash on the back of a resounding 37-10 elimination semi-final win over defending premiers Bathurst St Pat’s last Sunday, Blayney will enter the semi-final confident but cautious of the sort of ill-discipline that’s cost them against the Dragons in the past.
“They’re pumped,” Howarth said of his side after the win.
“We had a bit of recovery on Tuesday and then the boys trained well again (on Thursday). We’ll head up to Mudgee at lunchtime (today) and have another run and go from there.
“I think it’ll come down to which side gives away the most penalties and the field position that comes from that.”
VIDEO: Michelle Cook and Nick McGrath preview this weekend's games:
In the corresponding game in Mudgee earlier this season, Blayney finished the match with 12 men after Howarth was sent off for a high tackle.
The Bears lost 28-18.
“Discipline is going to be huge for us,” he added.
“We’ve got to start well, and then start the second half strong as well.
“We showed ourselves in Lithgow, if you don’t come out in the first 10 minutes of the second half and play well you’ll get blown away.”
Working in Blayney’s favour is an unchanged line-up to the one that performed the St Pat’s demolition job last week, and Howarth admits an unchanged starting 13 is a luxury he hasn’t been afforded much in 2015.
“It’s the first time since round two we haven’t had any changes to the side,” he laughed.
Sunday’s Group 10 minor semi-final begins at 1.45pm.
BLAYNEY BEARS: 1 Jesse Nixon, 2 Jake Crooks, 3 Josh Rainbow, 4 William Kennedy, 5 Ryan Oborn, 6 Terry Brown, 7 Steve Lane, 8 Will Ingram, 9 Cam Dennis, 10 Terawhiti Cooper, 11 Michael Nixon, 12 Josh Nixon, 13 Dane Howarth; 14 Leigh Monaghan, 15 Jake Mooney, 16 Marc Slingsby, 17 Michael Dixon, 18 Lewis Bird.