BATHURST duo Nic Barlow and Riley Cheshire are heading across the ditch for a New Zealand tour after being named in their respective NSW Country rugby league sides.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This weekend Panthers player Barlow (under 16s) and Pat’s forward Cheshire (under 18s) begin their nine-day journey, which will include matches against Greymouth and Canterbury High Schools.
The Bathurst pair are among 10 Western Rams juniors selected for the tour.
Barlow earned his spot in the country team after he impressed in the Rams’ narrow victory over the East Coast Dolphins.
“It was a pretty tight game. Came right down to the last second. It went into extra time and we got up,” Barlow said.
“I’ve had a pretty good season [with Panthers] so far. We’ve only lost the one game.
“I feel like I’ve come pretty far from last year.”
Barlow is joined by Campbell Woolnough (Red Bend) and Benjamin Glasheen (Parkes Marist) in the under 16s side.
“I’ve played football with Benji for a while. We’ve played together in rep sides since I was little,” Barlow said.
“We’re expecting some big boys over in New Zealand.”
I feel like I’ve come pretty far from last year.
- Nic Barlow
Cheshire is joined in under 18s by fellow Rams players Darby Medlyn (Parkes Spacemen), Joey Hobby (Blayney Bears), Jaiden Burke (Forbes Magpies), Matt Burton (Dubbo CYMS), Charlie Staines (Forbes Magpies) and Luke Gale (Dubbo Macquarie).
Rams mentor Cameron Greenhalgh will be assistant coach for the 18s boys.
Both teams face Greymouth High School on Tuesday before travelling to Christchurch to play Canterbury High School on July 9.
The Rams under 16s and 18s are looking to continue their spectacular 2017 seasons after both Western squads won their respective CRL Country Championships earlier this year.
The teams fly out on Saturday.
