The 2014 Castlereagh League season will officially start this Saturday when the Castlereagh League knockout takes place at Allan Burns Oval in Trangie with all eight clubs competing.
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The action will start at 11am with the host club, the Trangie Magpies, up against the reigning premiers, the Gilgandra Panthers.
The Magpie's trial form indicates they will be a vastly more competitive outfit from previous years, although they will not have the services of the talented Braden Carney until after May 5 as he serves out a suspension from the 2013 season.
Other first round clashes will see the Warren Bulldogs take on Dunedoo Swans at 11.35am, Coonabarabran and Coolah clash at 12.10pm and Gulgong with Coonamble meeting at 12.45pm.
Both the Coolah Kangaroos and the Gulgong Terriers will be having their first Castlereagh League hit outs under their new captain coaches Brad Sheridan and Thomas Jackson respectively
Sheridan, a 23-year-old shearer, is noted for his versatility and talent, being able to cover a number of positions as a player and also being the Castlereagh League player of the year in 2012.
He takes over from Chris Kearney who will assist when he can, but the level of assistance will be limited by work commitments.
The Kangaroos have lost one of their better forwards from last year, Brendon Lumby and there will be no Cleal brothers lining up for them this year.
On a positive note young forward Anthony Capparonis will have his first year in senior league and prop Matt Clout will also be in the red and white guernsey along with old head Brad Wright who is making a return to rugby league after playing union.
Meanwhile at Gulgong the busy Thomas Jackson has taken the reins from Steve Haney as captain-coach.
Jackson has been one of the stars for the Terriers over the past couple of years and has won numerous club awards in that time.
He will have to do without the services of representative players Andrew Warwicker who has signed with the Mudgee Dragons and Dave Morrison who will be sidelined for the year after ACL surgery in the off season
The Terriers have been highly competitive in recent years and there is little to suggest that they will not again figure prominently in the 2014 Castlereagh League competition which is shaping as a very even one.
If the crowd at a recent trial game at Trangie is any indication then Allan Burns Oval will be jammed packed for what should be an exciting day of fast paced rugby league.
In all 10 games will be played with the final set down for a 4.15pm kick off
The competition proper will commence on April 26.
