A bumper crowd is expected at Jubilee Oval this Saturday as the Boggabri Kangaroos host one of their main rivals in a Group 4 second division rugby league minor semi-final.
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Almost exactly a year after beating the Dungowan Cowboys 32-22 in a minor semi-final at Boggabri, the Kangaroos are seeking another triumph while Dungowan hopes history doesn’t repeat.
Kangaroos team manager Anthony Boyce remarked: “There’s a will to win from both sides every time.”
Boyce anticipated that last year’s minor semi-final would provide an added incentive for the Cowboys, after Dungowan squandered a 22-6 lead in that fixture.
In the two encounters so far this year, Dungowan won 22-12 on home soil in round two before Boggabri won 38-12 at home in round nine.
The latter result was part of a four-game losing sequence for the Cowboys, who won their next three matches before having a bye.
The Kangaroos meanwhile snapped a two-game losing streak with last Saturday’s 46-22 beating of reigning premier Kootingal which was out of finals reckoning.
Playing for the full 80 minutes was paramount, according to Boyce, who anticipated that this Saturday’s match could go down to the wire after last year’s minor semi-final was in doubt until the dying minutes.
Boyce deemed that a major aspect requiring attention was completing the set of tackles after scoring points, and he also referred to a disappointing completion rate in the first half of last Saturday.
“We can’t afford to play like we did in the first half last week, or else Dungowan will put us to the sword,” Boyce said.
Boyce considered being at home was hugely beneficial for the Kangaroos who were unconquered at home for two years, until Werris Creek downed Boggabri 33-28 at Jubilee Oval less than a fortnight ago.
Boggabri’s line-up is set to be much the same as the one that beat Kootingal last weekend, with Kyle Newcombe slated to return after being away.
Boyce made no secret of the fact that the Kangaroos and Cowboys had similar styles.
“Both sides like to dominate the ruck, (and) hit the edges off the go-forward of the big fellows up front,” he said.
Boyce rated Dungowan’s fullback, Dylan O’Brien and halfback Matt Wilson highly, alongside five-eighth Shaun Ferguson and hooker Lochie Collins.
