DUBBO Westside are now in control of their own destiny in 2015.
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After having few points to show for their efforts in the first half of the season, the Rabbitohs have sprung into action during the past month.
The men in red and green recorded three wins from their past four matches, games which included clashes against the competition’s top three teams, and now sit in fifth spot.
With the bye this weekend before the final four rounds of the regular season, Westside are a real chance of ending their Group 11 finals drought.
“During the first four games in the second round we wanted to get two, maybe three wins, and we’ve done that,” captain Shane Konz said.
“There’s no easy games but we now play teams who are about even or below us on the table so it’s up to us.”
An undermanned Rabbitohs team went to Cobar on Sunday and they returned home with maximum points thanks to an inspired performance from a pair of Coreys.
The versatile Corey Ashby slotted in at fullback and scored five tries on his own to lead his side to a 66-12 win over the struggling Roosters.
Corey Cox also continued his fine form, scoring a hat-trick and kicking nine goals to finish with a personal tally of 30 points in the comprehensive win.
“Last week against Parkes he (Ashby) played hooker and got our three points and then he moves to fullback and scores five tries,” Konz said.
“He could have had seven but two were called back for forward passes.”
The win was made even better due to the fact that more than seven regular first graders were missing.
That injury list was worryingly added to after just 25 minutes when Josh Merritt departed with a knee injury, the severity of which is not yet known.
But all in all it was a hugely successful day at Tom Knight Oval for the Dubbo side, who were victorious in all four grades.
The first grade win, coupled with Nyngan’s loss at Forbes, saw Westside leapfrog the Tigers into a finals position.
During the first half of the season Westside drew with Nyngan, Narromine and Wellington and they play those side again in the final month of the season.
Konz admitted turning those results to win this time around could be the difference between scraping through to the finals and finishing further up the ladder.
“ This week we’ll have a couple of gym sessions and have three-four training sessions and keep the boys keen and wanting to turn up,” Konz said.
“The ball is in our court now and we’ve got every opportunity to make the finals.
“And in the finals you want a second bite at the cherry so we want to get up into third or fourth spot.”