Woongarrah v Kanwal
Fierce rivals headline the match of the round once again as in-form Woongarrah look to get one back over their local counterparts and move into the top four while a determined Kanwal will be ready to pounce back to winning ways and do the double over their rivals in 2024.
When these two sides met back on the 4th of May and were the featured fixture for round 4, the contest lived up to all expectations as the Bulls claimed a 5-4 victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Now the Wildcats will look to avenge that loss when they host their rivals on Saturday night at their fortress of Hamlyn Terrace. With lots of hype around the Wildcats to start the season, Luke Rogers and his men had a slow start which saw them bottom of the ladder after their opening three games.
However, since their loss against Kanwal, Woongarrah have been a team on a mission which is reflected in their results, winning five of their last six games and being unbeaten in that run of fixtures.
Rogers gave insight into the success behind their current run of form and how proud he is that his squad has been able to turn things around.
“Looking from the outside in, it will look like we have had a massive turnaround since the start of the season but from the coaching staff and players involved we know this is not the case.”
“Putting such a whole new playing roster together was always going to have its challenges early on which we expected, and we still have a long way to go as a side, but the important thing is the boys are working really hard to make this happen.”
“I feel the reason for our current six-game streak is down to us just sticking together, believing in what we are doing and improving a little every week. It also helps that we have a great bunch of lads who are becoming really close on and off the field. They are playing as a team and fighting for the Club and one another.”
Woongarrah are currently one point out of a finals spot in the top four, with that fourth-place spot currently occupied by Kanwal who have slipped in recent weeks from leading the pack.
This week could serve as a week for redemption for the Wildcats who must play Avoca Thursday night for a mid-week catch-up game as they also look to avenge their biggest loss of the season when the Sharks defeated them 6-0 on the opening day.
Six points in their next two fixtures could see them shoot up the ladder and become the new league leaders but Rogers knows how difficult a win in this derby is and states his side has learnt a lot from their last encounter and what needs to be done to claim victory this time around.
“I didn’t expect anything less from our last game against Kanwal, but I’ve also been involved in some great derby matches with them over the years. The boys certainly learned some lessons, but you have to be in those games to gain that experience.”
“Our first half last time was a massive improvement on the preseason cup game against them. We deserved our 3-1 lead at halftime, but derby matches are rarely won in 45 minutes and even though it was a costly lesson to lose that match I think it’s served us well moving forward.”
“We know what we got to do to win Saturday night and anything less from that and we don’t walk away with all three points.”
Kanwal will be raring to get back on the pitch and make up for their disappointing results last weekend as the club championship leaders recorded losses in all three grades for the first time this year.
In First Grade, that was the Bulls’ fourth loss of their campaign and the biggest so far as they went down 4-0 to the defending premiers and league champions Killarney.
Kanwal now finds themselves on a two-game losing streak for the first time this season as they look to turn things around in time for this weekend’s derby.
Ryan Walker voiced what he believes went wrong for his side last weekend. “It wasn’t a good weekend for us across the board, we have a few injuries across this squad however that’s no excuse as I am sure all teams do at this stage of the season, I think I put it down to Killarney being critical in moments and we were not”
Walker also touched on where his squad is at with fitness and injury at this stage of the season. “We are managing okay, we definitely have had and do have injuries to deal with but that’s where your depth comes into it and boys need to step up to play at whatever level is asked of them”
Despite their lack of form in recent weeks, Kanwal enters Saturday with the advantage of having beaten this side twice already this season. When it comes to a derby match of this magnitude, form typically goes out the window and it is usually won by the side wants it more on the night.
Seeing their rivals above them on the ladder will have Kanwal fired up and raring to go as they look to leave enemy territory with a win and all bragging rights, but Walker is well aware of the dangers the opposition possesses.
“Woongarrah have some very good players, and we have played them twice this year now and I think it has been evident that a lot of them haven’t played together before and it takes time to gel and judging by their results of late, Luke has them firing and they will be very tough to play.”
“Of late we have been switching off in moments and conceding too many goals, for us to win we will have to sort that out and stay switched on for the full game I am sure it will be a great atmosphere, and I know both teams will be looking forward to the occasion.”
Match Official – Trent Dickeson
All Round 13 Fixtures –
