The Dubbo Junior Rugby Club continues to show its strength with another club championship added to the collection and the chance to earn two grand final spots awaiting this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dubbo will host this weekend's Central West Junior Rugby Union major and minor semi-finals and the games will be played at No. 1 Oval following the Group 11 major semis being switched from Sunday to Saturday.
The Dubbo club will have its under 17s Blue side and its under 15s Blue side featuring the in the major semis, with those two sides the main reason for the club championship win.
"But it was a real club effort," Dubbo Junior Rugby Club president said.
"Not just the 15 Blues who went undefeated and the 17 Blues who finished in second but those other sides contribute.
"Some of those younger Reds teams lost a few games but they all contributed to that overall finish.
"We won the club championship last year too and after a tight tussle with Mudgee this year we got it and it's a great privilege and a great result."
Six matches will be played from 9am on Saturday, with Blake expecting the 15s major semi against Mudgee to be a real "spectacle".
"They've been absolutely dominant all year," Blake said of the Dubbo 15s Blue side.
"They made the semis last year as the younger age Reds side and I thought were unlucky not to make the final.
"They've matured physically and mentally and play with a united front.
"And coach James Austin, he's got them playing entertaining football and it's great to watch. They play hard and fast and if they spread it wide they might be unstoppable."
The 15s side will again be led by Leo Bassingthwaite and Nosa Obaseki, two players who have represented NSW Country this season and are also part of the extended NSW Rugby Union Gen Blue squad.
The under 17s Blue side also meets Mudgee, having lost out to the junior Wombats in the minor premiership race.
The 17s side has been affected by the absence of Jack Bell and Jayden Blake due to representative commitment at times this season and while they are on deck for Saturday they will be without inside centre Kieran Rosenbaum after a serious knee injury suffered last weekend.
"I think it's going to be an evenly-fought match," 17s coach Blake said.
"It will be about sustaining pressure for the 60 minutes and about ball retention, you can't build pressure without that.
"Mudgee is very competitive and physical ... if we can maintain the pressure and stick to our plans it should be a very interesting game."
As well as Bell and Blake, the performances of Darcy Chewings, James Finch, and Kaine Merchant will be key.
Major and minor semi-finals
No. 1 Oval, Saturday.
9am: Forbes v Wellington (13s minor semi)
10.15am: Orange Emus v Orange City (13s major semi)
11.30am: Forbes v Cowra-Canowindra (15s minor semi)
12.45pm: Dubbo v Mudgee (15s major semi)
2pm: Orange City v Forbes (17s minor semi)
3.25pm: Mudgee v Dubbo (17s major)
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
