When South Dubbo steps out on to No. 1 Oval to play in the RSL-Whitney Cup grand final this weekend they, like any sporting side, will have a close bond.
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But the mateship within the Hornets side is even more close than many others.
That unity is born out of tragedy, as the side and the wider Dubbo community was left in shock and mourning late last year when promising young sportsman Sam Fraser passed away.
One of the real up-and-coming players within the Dubbo and District Cricket Association, Fraser had quickly become an integral part of Mitch Bower’s side and while he has left a gaping hole in the team, the club and the lives of so many, his passing has brought the group closer together.
“It’s what you have to do in times when a tragedy has happened,” Souths captain Bower said.
“You bond together and help each other out and Souths has done that. Obviously Mick, Karen and Grace (the Fraser family) are the most affected but it affected everyone in our club and the club has been there for everyone who needed help, and the team has bonded more so since and been there for each other. Not so much on the cricket field, but in general.
“That happening in our lives does reflect how we’ve played together, to a degree, because we’re there for each other on the cricket field and that’s what this club is about.”
The mateship in the side is clear for all to see when they are out on the field.
There is always laughter and joking during the match but there is also confidence and determination, something which was instilled after being beaten by Macquarie in last season’s grand final.
“After tasting defeat last year all the boys know what it feels like, and it’s pretty miserable so we’re here to try and win it,” he said.
“It’s going to be different to last year. A different team, different weather conditions and we’ll go out there and do what we’ve been doing all year.”
In terms of the weekend’s opponents, RSL-Colts, Bower said the men in red are a talented side who play a fairly “basic” style of cricket.
“They look to bat time and bat the overs out, and then they try and restrict you and suffocate you,” he said.
“They don’t give you much. They bowl simple lines outside off, they pack an off-side field and wait for the batsman to make a mistake.
“It’s not rocket science what they do, but they do it well so we’ve got to try and counteract that.”
Bower highlighted Wes Giddings, Greg Buckley and Brad Cox as the three big wickets his side has to take.
Souths will be without NSW Country representative Will Lindsay on Saturday while Justin Knudsen will miss both days. Kyle Wells and Michael McCarthy have been called in as cover.