Harden’s James Wallis was in fine form during his last outing at Robert’s Park scoring 2 tries.
They call it the old South West Comp and the old boys of the rugby world around these parts haven’t forgotten their love of rugby. The 2019 OilsPlus Southwest Competition is shaping up to be a cracker at the half way mark in 2019.
Life is being bred back into bush footy and even causing some old stags to brush off the boots and have a run for their respective town.
Cootamundra appear to be the benchmark and are being guided around the park by Aaron Byrne at Five Eight. Bryne hasn’t played rugby since 2007, some 12 years, but has notched up plenty of games for the Cootamundra Bulldogs over the last decade.
He is used to getting his hands on the ball after predominately playing hooker in Rugby League, yet able to play any position in the backs.
Byrne said, “My job is pretty easy, I have to bark a few orders and get guys to where they should be. I’m happy to play that role. The direction side of things is one of my strengths, to push people around and control the team. Coming from league the physical side of things is completely different.”
Byrne turns 33 on Wednesday. Happy Birthday!
Harden’s Ben Lenehan has returned from Tamworth this week after kicking 5 from 7 in the final of the NSW Country Competition. He represented the victorious Central West Bulls, who defeated Illawarra 45-21.
Harden will face Coota at Robert’s Park in Murrumburrah this Saturday with 4 players returning from a Central West Bulls side which took out the Country Championship in Tamworth over the weekend. Harden players dominated in the Bull’s side with Jack O’Connor, Shahid Khalfan, and Ben Lenehan leading the way. Unfortunately Aaron Seaman was injured before the tournament and was unable to take part.
The Harden men will need a reversal of form against the tri colours if they are to set the platform to go back to back after claiming last year’s premiership. Coota defeated the Devils 31-5 at Fisher Park in a Friday night game in round 2 under lights. Although Harden was missing a couple of players, Coota were too good for the Devils and ran out winners 31-5.
Jeremy Martin, Jack Quinn and Toby Hayden prepare to tackle the Grenfell Hooker at Robert’s Park.
Much of Coota’s success this season has come from their forward pack.
Coota’s Hooker Darryl Hemapo has been outstanding in defence and has racked up 6 or 7 line breaks each match. A referee told a former Devil recently that in 12 years of refereeing bush rugby, Hemapo was the best player he had seen. It should make for a great match on Saturday.
Harden coach Jack O’Connor said, “It will be our biggest challenge for the year so far. They dusted us in Coota on that Friday night and we are putting our game plan together and we have a squad of blokes who are keen to rip in.”
Harden will be happy to return to Robert’s Park after a few brutal matches on the road.
They enjoyed a great win against Grenfell in the last 2 weeks and O’Connor is looking forward to welcoming some players back.
He said, “We are having an auction to raise money for Prostate Cancer with the jerseys that were sponsored by the Jugiong Motor Inn. We are looking to raise awareness and it will be good to get a great club like Coota over for what we are calling the Old Boys round this weekend.”
The ladies play at 2:15pm and the Tri Colours kick off at 3:15pm when they take on the Harden Red Devils at Robert’s Park in Murrumburrah.
