WESTERN Rams coach Michael Sullivan admitted he didn’t know a lot about the Group 11 side leading into Saturday’s representative cluster day, but he was left impressed as nine players from their outfit gained Western selection.

Their selection came after Group 11 defeated Group 10 14-6 in their representative match at Dubbo on Saturday evening.

St Pat’s five-eighth Garry Reilly, busy representing New Zealand in touch football, was named in the Rams squad despite not being available to play for Group 10.

His Saints club-mate, hooker Benjamin John, was the only other Bathurst player to make the Rams squad.

John was one of the standouts in the Group 10 side which went down to fierce rivals Group 11. That defeat came after Group 10 had earlier defeated Castlereagh League 14-10.

Group 10 coach Graeme Osbourne admitted the changes made to his side due to injury and unavailability – St Pat’s prop Luke Newsome one of them as he was ruled out due to suspension – did affect the team.

However, he admitted Group 11 were the better side on the night and deserved their first win over Group 10 in three years.

“This is the third year we’ve come up here and we knew one year they were going to play hard to take it back off us,” he said.

“Unfortunately we had a few late withdrawals, but it was still a good side we put out on the park.

“It’s not really disappointing, both sides acquitted themselves quite well and put on a good spectacle.”

Group 11 scored the first 14 points of the match before the visitors finally got on the board with 10 minutes to go.

Winger Cody Robbins scooped up a dropped ball and flew 60 metres to score and while Ben McAlpine converted, that is where Group 10’s comeback ended.

The Western Rams team was named after that fixture, with Group 11 rewarded for their victory as nine players made the cut.

As well as Pat’s duo Reilly and John, Bathurst product and current Orange CYMS player Simon Osborne will wear the green and white of Western Division this year.

Sullivan feels he has a team which is capable of making a real impact at the Country Rugby League Regional Tier 2 Championship later this month.

“A lot of players I know their background and some I don’t, so you’ve got to go with the side you think best fits and we’ve got some really good talent, a big forward pack, talent out wide and some inspirational pivots, so we’ll go from there,” he said.

“Enthusiasm is the biggest thing and Group 11 won the points on that today and that’s why they’ve got the majority of the players in.”

Mudgee duo Jack Afamasaga and Demetrius Anu were, like Reilly, named despite missing Saturday’s action. 

However, Sullivan said there was no doubting their quality and they were fully deserving of their spots.

“Reilly is at the World Cup captaining New Zealand at touch footy, so that’s a fair excuse after getting picked and I know his talent and he would have had a great game today,” he said.

“Jack speaks for himself and I don’t think anyone who has played with or against him would question his selection and Demetrius is the other and he’s along the same lines. He’s got Sydney experience and I know all those guys are quality players and if they were there today it’s a very close game.”

Sullivan and his selection committee went with a side packed with strength up front.

“I know some of the Group 10 guys can player better than that and they didn’t turn up on the day and it’s cost them a spot in the side, but that’s the nature of footy and choosing these sides,” Sullivan said.

Western begin their Country Rugby League Regional Tier 2 Championship campaign on May 30 with a clash against the Greater Northern Tigers at Bathurst’s Carrington Park.

WESTERN RAMS: Jyie Chapman, John Grey, Keiran Shipp, Colby Pellow (Dubbo CYMS), Jeremy Smith (Dubbo Macquarie), Brendan Tago (Parkes Spacemen), Jake Grace, Ben Maguire (Forbes Magpies), Justin Toomey-White (Wellington Cowboys), Jack Afamasaga, Demetrius Anu, Corin Smith (Mudgee Dragons), Benjamin John, Garry Reilly (St Pat’s), Simon Osborne, Ben McAlpine (Orange CYMS), Dane Howarth (Blayney Bears).