Group 19’s season is set to start this weekend and the first clash of the round will put the newly-introduced second division competition to the test with Uralla Tigers hosting Walcha Roos on Friday night.
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Both the Tigers and Walcha have shifted into the new competition this year after contesting the now-discontinued Group 4 second division tournament last year.
Uralla’s young side finished seventh in 2017 but with a bit more experience and added depth, captain-coach Josh Clark hopes they can make their mark on the Group 19 competition.
“A bit similar [to last year] but I have a few older blokes who have played here in the past like Josh Dunne and Scott Swain so they bring a little bit of leadership to the group,” he said.
“Now all those young fellas aren't so young anymore and they are starting to step up.
“And then add those two older fellas back into the team and it makes it a lot more experienced.
“We are not going to get too ahead of ourselves but we hope to go alright.”
Friday night’s clash is set to be a hard-fought contest with a long history of rivalry between the neighbouring clubs.
“They are always tough, the Walcha boys,” Clark said.
“I have only lived in Uralla for a little while but they are the team we like to beat.
“It is always a good spectacle, we get a lot of support up there and so do they because it is only so far to travel.”
The league tag encounter will commence the night’s rugby league action and is set to be a tough encounter with Uralla finishing as runners-up in Group 4 last year and Walcha in third.
“They have about 18 players and a new coach in Kerry Brett and he is going about it with a bit of a different style to how they have played in the past so it could be interesting,” Clark said.
“They definitely have plenty of youth and plenty of experience too but at the same time four of their players got into the Group 19 rep side so they definitely have some skill up there.”
As for the rest of the competition, Clark believes it is going to be tough to separate the sides.
“I think our comp will be pretty strong with [Guyra], Ashford and Warialda, and taking nothing away from the other sides, I think it will be a very tight comp,” he said.
“I don't think there will be much separating first from last.”
Ellen Dunger
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Am currently involved in endurance horse riding and racing. Always happy to hear news and tips. Contact me via email: ellen.dunger@austcommunitymedia.com.au or phone/ text 0438 259 985 www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Am currently involved in endurance horse riding and racing. Always happy to hear news and tips. Contact me via email: ellen.dunger@austcommunitymedia.com.au or phone/ text 0438 259 985 www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
