Our Platypi women carry the blues' banner into this weekend's Blowes Clothing Cup semi-finals.
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Forbes ladies will meet Dubbo ladies at Wade Park, Orange, at 11.10am Saturday and while coach Brendan Hayes says they go in as underdogs, he also says they're ready to give it their all.
Hayes says the squad is excited for the clash, against what he acknowledges is "one of the strongest sides in the competition."
"It's a great result for those players who have hung on since we started training in November last year," he said.
"We go in as underdogs but we have some exceptional talent and some great rugby skills so we are really looking to put on a really good show."
We go in as underdogs but we have some exceptional talent and some great rugby skills so we are really looking to put on a really good show.
- Coach Brendan Hayes
This will actually be the first time this season that the Platypi and Dubbo side have met in the women's competition, Forbes was forced to forfeit their meeting in the competition rounds due to an extensive injury toll.
The squad has been hard-hit by injury in this shortened season, and even this weekend two prominent players in Shannon Hurley and Nat Carthew.
"They are two really inspirational players so they will certainly be on the sidelines giving support," Hayes said.
But it could be a good thing for Forbes to be something of an unknown to Dubbo as they head into this weekend's semi-finals.
"Our expectations to go out there and go for broke," Hayes said.
"We are 100 per cent committed to providing our whole effort and really looking forward to it."
In the other women's semi-final, Orange Emus meet the Bulldogs.
While our men's season has come to an end, Hayes says Central West Rugby has ensured Forbes has tickets to Saturday's contest within the number restrictions due to COVID-19 and there'll be a solid blues support base.
Forbes' first grade side was eliminated by Orange City at the Lions' home ground last Saturday.
The Platypi went into the contest hopeful on the back of their first win of the competition a week earlier, but Orange City were also keen to book their first semi-final slot in four seasons.
City claimed a 41-3 victory in first grade, secured second grade success 29-19, Colts 34-12 and women's 31-24.
Despite that loss, Forbes sat in fourth position on the ladder ahead of Orange City in the women's competition.
Dubbo Roos go into the semi-finals as competition leaders with six wins from seven games to their credit.
Bulldogs have finished in second position and Orange Emus in third to contest the rugby union finals series.