RUGBY: 27 FEBRUARY 2017

Under-19 Blue Bulls under-prepared, under-manned for Manly clash

The Central West Under-19 Blue Bulls received a bit of a rugby lesson from the Manly Under-20s in last Saturday’s trial game at Cumnock, being walloped 66-0.

But Molong Magpies coach Graeme Hobbs, whose son Matt is the only Molong representative in the side, wasn't too despondent about the loss, pointing to a number of factors that acted against the Bulls on the day:

— The year’s age difference is significant at this level.

— The Manly side had been training together at at least a month longer than the Central West.

— Most importantly on quite a hot day, Manly had virtually a second side on the bench and could field fresh players all day. The Blue Bulls, on the other hand, played with just two reserves.

Meanwhile, Molong Online admits to having been remiss in its representative rugby coverage, concentrating only on the Blue Bills Under-19 side, when two Molong players, Will Oldham and Zac White, have been selected in the senior Blue Bulls squad.

Both squads will be trimmed to contest the NSW Country Rugby Union Championships in Port Macquarie from April 28-30.

Congratulations Will and Zac.