Dubbo Rams coach Damien Reid is hopeful a huge crowd at the Woolshed on Saturday evening can inspire his side to a first Waratah League win of 2016.
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The weekend’s match will be the Rams’ last at home this season but it will also be the annual “Pink Night” for charity.
Prior to the Rams’ clash with the Illawarra Hawks there will be a curtain-raiser match played out between members of the local police force and Dubbo ambulance officers.
That match is certain to entertain and it is just one aspect of the evening which will raise money for the Pink Angels and breast cancer care.
“We’re looking forward to it and I think since we’ve started the Pink Night it’s been our biggest crowd of the year,” Reid said.
“In the Canberra game we had one of the best crowds we’ve had and I’m hopeful we might double that and if we can get that kind of energy it can help us get over the line.
“It would be awesome to finish our home season with a win to thank the crowd for their support.”
It’s been a tough 2016 for the Rams, who remain winless at the bottom of the ladder.
But in recent weeks there has been plenty of positives and last round’s hard fought loss to the competition leading Canberra Gunners was by far the side’s best performance of the season.
The Hawks are only one place above the Rams on the ladder and Reid has been vocal in recent weeks, saying this fixture marks Dubbo’s best chance of a win.
“Defensively, if we can repeat the effort we put in (against Canberra) and do the same then we’ll be in with a chance,” he said.
“It’s going to, again, come down to scoring, which has let us down this season.”
The match is expected to be a physical and frantic one with both sides desperate to finish 2016 on a positive note.
Reid has called on his side to again be more decisive in attack and is also hoping for some luck after his side saw countless shots fall agonisingly short against Canberra.
“They (Illawarra) will not want to lose to us so I expect them to be fired up,” Reid said.
“We’re going to be fired up too and this is the one game we should be able to win but we Illawarra will fight tooth and nail for every shot and every possession.”
Dubbo will be at full strength and the likes of experienced campaigners Reid, Daniel Medway and Mark Willis will all be keen to score a win for some of the side’s younger brigade, led by Shayne Brown, Adam Wheeler and Nic Conte.
Tip of is at 5pm on Saturday.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
