THE Windsor Wolves Sydney Shield team has turned a corner in recent weeks after an awful start to the season, winning three games in a row and thrusting itself into finals contention.
The Wolves beat the Wentworthville Magpies at the weekend, with a 28-12 scoreline, while the Ron Massey Cup team went down 30-22 to third placed Wentworthville.
The win followed two big scorelines posted against Western Suburbs Magpies and Hills District Bulls in previous weeks.
The Wolves have lifted themselves off the bottom of the ladder and into 10th place.
They sit two wins outside the eight, but with eight games left in the season, it is not out of the realms of possibility that they make a late charge.
There's still eight games to go. Our big test was Wenty and we passed that with flying colours.
- Chris Boyd
Their coach Chris Boyd said a number of players were injured at the start of the season, and stability in the line-up over recent weeks had paid dividends.
“We've got a few blokes back from injury who have been out and we've just been able to put the same side on the field for the last few weeks,” he said.
Boyd said the backline, in particular, was firing on all cylinders.
“Our two halves have been playing really well and against Wenty our back five were excellent,” he said.
“They were getting into dummy half and causing all kinds of problems for the defence.”
He said the wins had put them right back into finals contention, after the team had been at the bottom of the ladder for much of the season.
“We had a really bad start to the year with players being injured and not having a lot of options but in the last three weeks we've really turned a corner,” he said.
“There's still eight games to go. Our big test was Wenty and we passed that with flying colours.
“Everyone is really focused on coming home with a wet sail.”
On Sunday, the Sydney Shield team has an away game against the Belrose Eagles.
Belrose are fifth and with eight wins to their name, and Boyd said the Wolves would be tested by them.
“We'll be looking to control the ball and complete our sets and get our completions up,” he said.
“Ball control has been drummed into their heads for the past few weeks and it has worked.
“In the pouring rain two weeks ago I don't think we dropped a single ball.”
The Ron Massey Cup loss sees the team slump to second-last on the ladder.
The team will also play away in round 17 against Concord-Burwood Wolves on Sunday.
Concord-Burwood is in fourth, and is one of six teams with six wins to its name.
With improved showings in recent weeks, Windsor’s first grade team has an outside chance of a finals run.