For two years the Bathurst under 11 boys have dominated the Western Youth League competition, but they will face their toughest test yet when they travel to Merimbula for the Country Cup this weekend.
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The talented side have been undefeated in 16 games over the last two seasons, with a 2-all draw against Lithgow the only result that prevented a perfect record.
While none of the teams in the Western region have been able to stop Bathurst, they will now go to the next level and take on the top sides from the Riverina and Southern districts, two areas that are noted for their strong juniors.
The Bathurst team themselves have a very strong side with five of their players representing Western in the Metropolitan Representative League.
They have also been helped by the fact that they have played together for so long that they know each other’s game.
“We haven’t had much of an opportunity to train together this season but they know each other’s games so well that it didn’t matter,” Bathurst coach Scott Mutton said.
As well as their draw against Lithgow, Bathurst also managed a win against them and two wins against both Dubbo and Orange.
In their six games Bathurst scored an incredible 33 goals while conceding just seven. Metro League representative Ryan Campbell scored 17 of those goals himself, as many as the second best attacking team, Lithgow, could score as a group.
The Country Cup is a round robin competition with two games played on Saturday and two played on Sunday and the winner is the team that is leading after all four games.
Mutton isn’t going into the weekend with a set goal but most importantly wants his players to enjoy it.
“We don’t really know what to expect but obviously they will be quite strong. We are just going down for the experience,” he said.
“If results go our way then that’s a bonus but it just gives kids who don’t play in the Metro League an opportunity to get that experience at a higher level.”
The winners of the Western Youth League under 12s and 13s boys competitions will also travel to the Sapphire Coast while the 14s, 15s and 16s will be playing in Bathurst. The 12s, 14s and 16s girls will play in Cootamundra.
BATHURST UNDER 11s: Nathan Luck, Luke Powell, Finlay Grabham, Hunter Davis, Aidan McBurney, Bryce Rue, Jacob Pepper, Thomas Natoli, Ryan Campbell, Cole Mutton, Hamish McIntyre, Jackson Stanmore, Charlie Sharwood.
