Canaries invite past greats for celebration of heritage

Many of Dapto's best former rugby league players - led by Allan Fitzgibbon, Warwick Shirlaw, Bob Smithies, John Callaway and Dave Jeffcott - will be special guests at the Canaries' heritage game against Western Suburbs at Dapto Showground on Saturday.Dapto secretary Bryan Milthorpe said the Canaries had chosen to mark the heritage game against their traditional rivals Wests.Milthorpe said an open invitation was extended to former players and officials from both clubs to attend.The presence of Fitzgibbon, Shirlaw, Smithies, Callaway and Jeffcott could be the tonic Dapto need to lift them out of the doldrums.The Canaries are in equal fifth place on the Illawarra Carlton League ladder after a 34-12 loss to reigning premiers Collegians at WIN Stadium on Sunday.With a top-five format for the finals series, all clubs have a chance of making it.Dapto went into the Collies match without centre Matt Rieck (hamstring ) and prop Chris Leikvoll (hamstring), then in that game lost their starting front row of Shaun Wessell (hamstring), Shane Williams (ankle ligaments) and Scott Stonnell (shoulder), and back-rower Matt Crockett (leg).The Canaries led 12-4 at half-time but without their starting front row in the second term were unable to go with Collies, who clinically completed the game with ruthless efficiency."We played the last 20 minutes with no reserves," Dapto coach Dean Callaway said."Even though we had troops down we certainly didn't show any intensity in the early part of the second half when they really blew us away." Points: Thirroul 14, Collegians 10, Wests 9, Corrimal 8, Dapto 4, Berkeley 4, Wollongong/University 4, Helensburgh 3.