RUGBY: 04 APRIL 2017

Rugby Round-Up By JOCK HAYNES

It might still be autumn but the winter season has started … Molong Magpies return to the Rec

The Magpies have their first game of the season this Saturday, when they take on long-time rivals Yeoval at the Molong Rec at 3.15pm.

The 2017 season again sees the Graincorp Cups competition start with three zones —South, Central and North. Each team plays two home-and-away rounds against the other teams in their respective zones, with the Central zone then splitting — half going to the North and half going to the South, taking their competition points with them, leaving all teams in either the North or the South competition.

The Central zone comprises Molong, Yeoval, Aggies, Blayney and Canowindra (who are rumoured to be struggling for numbers, so a couple of byes might be in the offing), with Condobolin now being included. This has been brought about by the Southern zone expanding to include Harden, after the addition of Cootamundra and Temora in 2016.

Molong, Yeoval and Aggies will head North after the split, to play against Wellington, Coolah, Coonabarabran, Trangie, Geurie and Narromine (who have come down from Blowes Cup). With the vagaries of trying to arrange the draw, Molong appears to play Coolah twice and Geurie not at all, though based on the latter’s late 2016 form this may be a good thing!!!

The 2016 coaching group of Graeme Hobbs, Peter Evans and Mark ‘Hulk’ Toynton return to try to build on their good run in 2016.

On the playing front, Zac White, Jim Gavin and possibly Brodie Travis return from stints elsewhere. Blake Hutchinson and Scott Nichols will be welcome additions to the forwards and backs respectively, whilst Nobby Garlick has declared he still remains available!!!

Nick (now in Canada) and Tim Rodd, who have been fantastic players since 2012, are major losses, as is Ben Redfern, who we hear has hung up the boots for the second time.

Though Yeoval have been slow starters over the last few years, as we know, they are never an easy team to play against and always lift against Molong, so head on down on Saturday to see the Magpies hopefully get their season off to a good start.

The attached photos were taken by John Rozentals in Trangie during last season's Grand Final between Molong Magpies and Trangie Tigers.