IT wasn’t a victory and there wasn’t much time to prepare for or enjoy the experience, but CSU star Hugh Medway certainly had his eyes opened after taking part in the Australian Barbarians’ match in Orange on Saturday.

Medway was one of five Central West players drafted into the Barbarians squad for a showdown with the NSW Country Eagles Development Squad, which itself contained a handful of Central West regulars.

They played at Wade Park prior to the National Rugby Championship match between the Eagles and the Melbourne Rising.

Medway came off the bench and into the game early in the second half as the Baa Baas went down 63-18 in an entertaining spectacle.

Other players from around the area included Josh Tremain (Orange City), Lachie McCutcheon (Narromine), Brent Braithwaite (Orange Emus) and Carter Hirini (Emus).

Bathurst product Charlie Clifton was also in the side on the wing.

“It was a very fast game, they played with the altered rules that they also have in place for the Rugby Championship and it made for a pretty good spectacle I think,” Medway said.

“I loved it, it was a good run around with a bunch of guys who are probably a level above what we’re used to playing with and against out here in the Central West competition.

“Personally I thought my own game was fairly average, I hadn’t played in a month or so and it took a while to get up to the speed of the game. There was nothing particularly bad, but nothing that stood out from my performance.”

Medway was the backbone of CSU’s first grade side throughout the season and despite the students spending the majority of their campaign in the bottom bracket of the ladder, their captain stood out like a beacon.

He was rewarded with the competition’s player of the year award.

It is hard to imagine an onfield scenario in which he would be uncomfortable but as he explained, Saturday was something different to what he is used to.

“There is no training or anything for a game like that, we just showed up, quickly went through a couple of line-outs and then we were into it,” he said.

“It was a good experience once we were out there because the Barbarians have a brand of rugby they like to play and it is very attacking and positive.

“They take you away from the whole structure of being taught patterns and that sort of thing, they are all about quick taps, spreading the ball as quickly as you can and using the spaces that are opening up.

“There were a few guys in the side from Sydney that I’d heard of. I knew some of the Orange boys from playing against them, and Charlie being from Bathurst meant I was familiar with him, but those guys aside, I didn’t know a lot about my team-mates.”