Junior league teams from all across the region will converge on Apex Oval today for the qualifying rounds of the David Peachey Shield and Russell Richardson Shield.
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In total, 490 students representing 49 teams from Dubbo, Wellington, Narromine and Mudgee will line up in the respective competitions.
Students from years 3 and 4 will line up the Russell Richardson Shield, named after the former Westside junior who went on to play in the centres for Cronulla, NSW and Australia.
The David Peachey Shield is for students in years 5 and 6.
Country Rugby League development officer Matt Walkom said the competitions gave a lot of children their first experience at rugby league.
“The kids will all get shown a DVD about rugby league which has been put together and then it will be all action after that,” Walkom said.
“We have students from the senior campus and other high schools refereeing matches during the day, which also gives them a first taste at refereeing. Given the referee shortage around at the moment it works well and hopefully helps attract a few more referees as well as junior players.”
The winner and runners-up from each section of today’s event will progress through to the final of the event, which will be held on Wednesday, June 29.
“The good thing about these kinds of events is that they get so much support from the schools and heaps of parents turn up to watch and it makes for a really good atmosphere on the day,” Walkom said.
The heavy downfalls on Sunday night forced the postponement of a small schools gala day at Apex Oval yesterday however, Walkom doesn’t believe today’s competitions are in any danger.
