CSU’s winning streak will go under the blowtorch tomorrow when the students travel to Dubbo to take on the true heavyweights of Central West Rugby Union – the Kangaroos.
The Bathurst side has won their last four in an impressive run of form that has seen them bounce back from a poor start to the 2008 season.
But they take on a team who have won an incredible 31 straight matches – not so much a streak as it is a juggernaut.
The last time ’Roos tasted defeat was on July 15, 2006 when the Narromine Gorillas ground out a gutsy 15-13 win.
Before that, Dubbo had won nine straight as well.
CSU fullback Mal Friend will get his first taste of what it is like to battle a team at the peak of its powers at Dubbo’s Number 1 Oval tomorrow.
“Obviously we will have to be on top of our game – I have never played first grade against ’Roos so it will be something different,” he said.
“I think the best way we can compete with such a good side is just to chip away at them and hang in there – I’ll be doing my best to talk a lot from the back.”
Friend has enjoyed a solid progression through the ranks at the university club since starting out in Colts back in 2005.
He played under current coaches Dave Dowell and Andrew Gordon in second grade in 2006 and played a handful of matches at the top level last season.
The Gunnedah native briefly had his progress stopped in its tracks during the 2007 campaign after breaking his jaw, but he has not let it stop him having a huge impact on the top side this time around.
In 2008, he has made the number 15 jersey his own.
After missing last Saturday’s win over Cowra with a thigh injury, he can’t wait to return to action in such a crunch game.
“I’m absolutely loving my footy this season, we have a really good side and at times we have been awesome on the field,” he said. “We have a great defensive back line so I don’t have to tackle too much, I just try and keep up the talk.
“The boys said that they probably could have played a bit harder against Cowra last week but we have really improved since the loss to Emus – we were devastated at that stage and had a good hard look at how committed we were.”
Friend’s coach Dowell believes that anything is possible and that his side can take it to ’Roos on their home ground and end their phenomenal streak.
“I don’t know how many other teams in country rugby could go that long without a loss, but we are approaching the game with confidence. We have some good cattle,” Dowell said.
“I personally watched the Dubbo derby a few weeks back – they are not invincible, no-one is.
“Bulldogs are a good side and they showed last week that you can put it to Dubbo – we have started to put our attack together and that’s what we’ll be focusing on this week.”
CSU: 1 Wal Smythe, 2 Alex McHendrey, 3 Jono Murphy, 4 Richard Jeans, 5 Josh Maley, 6 Matt Boylan-Smith, 7 Angus Blackwood, 8 Jason Welburn, 9 Tim White, 10 Jeff Stewart, 11 Matt Coote, 12 Tim Ashworth (c), 13 Dom Maley, 14 James Hall, 15 Mal Friend.