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EVERY WEEK UNTIL THE ELECTION
THE GUIDE TO YOUR WEEKEND
YOUR RUGBY LEAGUE LEADER
MARCH 8 2013 ISSUE 1093
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 58,865
THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH
DRUG BUST
PENRITH’S SPORTS LEADER FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES
Police have discovered a clandestine drug lab in Orchard Hills. About 8pm on Tuesday night, officers from Strike Force Raptor executed a search warrant on a home at The Chase. They located a dismantled clandestine lab, and seized chemicals, glassware and items consistent with the manufacture of “ice�. One man has been arrested but investigations are ongoing.
POLICE NEWS: PAGE 13
PENRITH ROCKS
Penrith-based Western Sydney Wanderers fans are enjoying their club’s rise to the top of the A-League. Photo: Melinda Jane.
Wanderers on top
Festival to be held in CBD next week PAGE 15
How soccer’s newest club is winning over the west
T
hey may have made a fairytale surge to the top of the A-League ladder, but according to coach Tony Popovic, you are yet to see the best of the Western Sydney Wanderers. Speaking with the Weekender ahead of the club’s important clash against the bottom of the table Wellington Phoenix this Sunday, Popovic declared the Wanderers still have plenty of improvement in them and are nowhere near their peak.
“I think there is still a lot of improvement in the side, we weren’t at our best against Central Coast but you've got to give credit to the opposition who were very good on the night and we still found a way to win the game,� Popovic said. “Certainly we can improve and I believe this group, once they've been together a little longer and have a full pre-season together, can improve next year as well.� Last Saturday evening, the Wanderers continued their remarkable debut season by reaching the top of the A-League ladder for the fi rst time after defeating competition heavyweights, Central Coast Mariners. It was their eighth straight win.
Many believed that the Wanderers would be found out against the former league leaders, especially in Gosford, a fortress for the home side. But as usual, Western Sydney surprised everyone – scoring the game's lone goal against the run of play, and winning despite not playing their best football. Popovic is confident his side can stay on top. “We're not expecting any favours from any other teams, we can only control what we do, and we need to keep performing well and get the results to stay there,� he said. On Tuesday, the club strengthened its links with Penrith, with Popovic speaking at a Penrith Chamber of Commerce breakfast function.
PAGE 27
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