Western’s strong Country under 16s and under 18s contingent helped the maroon and golds to an undefeated tour of New Zealand after two comprehensive wins at Canterbury late last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NSW Country outfits both wrapped up the week-long tour with 50-8 and 40-8 wins respectively in the under 16s and under 18s.
The twin victories came on the back of wins over West Coast Rugby League in the tour opener at Wingham Park, Greymouth.
Dubbo Macquarie junior Luke Gale led the Rams contingent in the under 18s alongside Riley Cheshire (St Pat’s), Joey Hobby (Blayney Bears), Jaiden Burke (Forbes Magpies), Matt Burton (Dubbo CYMS), Charlie Staines (Forbes Magpies), Darby Medlyn (Parkes Spacemen).
Cheshire formed an important part of Western’s forward pack, his hard-running and work ethic an asset to the side.
While the under 16s country side had Campbell Woolnough (Red Bend), Benjamin Glasheen (Parkes Marist) and Nicholas Barlow (Bathurst Panthers) in the starting side.
Second-rower Barlow, no stranger to representative teams, was solid for Country.
Gale was named Country under 18s skipper, which assistant coach Cameron Greenhalgh said was a special achievement for the Rams talent.
“They were really good, but Luke especially. He was named man of the match and players’ player too in that last game,” Greenhalgh said of the Group 11 star, who also dominated the recent Astley Cup competition as well.
“It’s a great reward for him to be named captain.
“Every player in the squad was exceptional with their attitude towards football on and off the field and that was led by Luke.
“All the Western guys can hold their head high.”
Greenhalgh added with the reduction of the Country open’s team to under 23s the door for further representative honours was open for Western’s best in the near future.
“That’s right, and we spoke about that on tour too,” Greenhalgh said.
“These sort of opportunities don’t come around every day and, during this tour, they’ve grabbed it with both hands which is great to see.
“Everyone, not only the Western boys, took the field was exception over the eight days. Great experience for them.”
Greenhalgh said the Western boys that won country championship titles in both the under 18s and under 16s continued on the sort of form that saw the Rams record those memorable victories.
But he said under 18s five-eighth Burton was a stand-out.
“Burto, as a younger guy in that team too, the sky’s the limit for him.,” Greenhalgh said.
Hobby will slot straight back into Blayney’s under 18s side.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
