WHILE CSU will be playing to avoid the Blowes Clothing Cup wooden spoon this Saturday, there has been a plus side to the students missing this year’s finals series.
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With the university club having a big player turnover each season, finding continuity is a constant struggle for the coaching staff.
First grade coach Scott Hatch has tried to counter that issue by blooding more of CSU’s younger players – those who will return in 2018 – in the top grade.
Though some of those would have had time in the first XV anyway given their form and due to the inevitable injuries and absentees throughout the season, others got their chance as Hatch was thinking ahead.
They don’t find their feet in first grade in their first game – they're deer in the headlights.
- Scott Hatch
“The problem with us is, and I had a chat with a couple of the other coaching staff about it, is that a majority of our uni students are here for three years now and given they will probably stay in colts for two years, I’ve only got them for one year,” the coach and former CSU player said.
“It’s just not enough. They don’t find their feet in first grade in their first game – they're deer in the headlights. It takes half a season before they’re up to the grade and have built the skill level at that next level.
“I’ve already established that I’m losing nine of my starting 15 for next year. So it’s start over again next year.
“[But] I think over the course of the year I’ve blooded another 15 or so players. It’s a lot to go through firsts, but it’s been done with the mind that they need to have that experience.
“While we are not pressing for the top positions, it’s probably been a luxury that I can do that. If we were pushing for the finals, I probably couldn’t have used some of these other blokes at some stage.”
CSU heads into this Saturday’s final round sitting three points ahead of the Mudgee Wombats, the team it will host.
The students must win to avoid last place, but given some of the rugby Hatch’s men have produced over the last month against the likes of finals bound Orange Emus and Orange City, it’s a very achievable goal.
But Hatch wants more than just patches of good rugby and potential. He knows attracting more Bathurst players to the club can help achieve that goal.
“Moving forward we are also trying to get the idea out there that you don’t have to be a uni student to be in our squad, that’s one of the misconceptions that’s here around town,” he said.
“If we can get four or five Stannies boys or All Saints’ boys, if they get a job in town then come to us, they’re 10 year players and that would make a big difference.”
