RUGBY UNION
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TWO tries against Canberra Vikings put Darren Davis in the frame for Central West selection, but the Orange City centre will be unavailable at the worst possible time.
Davis scored twice for the Blue Bulls in the 24-17 trial loss against the Vikings at Walmer Park on Saturday.
The Bulls' squad will be culled to 22 for next month's Southern Provincial Championships, but Davis is already ruled out with work commitments.
This Saturday the Central West squad plays its final trial against Eastwood at Bathurst, after which the final squad will be selected.
"Darren was really pushing for a spot in the centres," Blue Bulls coach Steve Sergeant said. "But he will be unavailable for the first two SPC games because of work, so he won't be named in the squad."
Davis will miss the first two games against Illawarra and Southern Inlands, but will be available for the final SPC game against ACT at Cowra.
"Darren has been playing really well, but it will be hard for him to get into the team for the third game unless there's an injury or something," Sergeant said.
The Blue Bulls have a squad of 27, which Sergeant said would be an advantage if there were any injuries during the SPC.
"That was always the idea of having a squad of 40-odd at the start," he said.
"We knew we'd lose 10 or so, but all the guys now will have had a decent run in three trial games.
"So if any of the guys in the 22-man squad get injured or lose a bit of form, we have some guys who have trained and played with the team ready to come in."
Sergeant has an idea of the squad he would like, but admitted there were still several positions to be decided.
"It's pretty tough at the moment because all the guys seem up the challenge, so this Saturday will be their last chance to impress," he said.
Central West will be without Dubbo Roos scrum-half Paul Elliott (knee) and Cowra winger Leon Larsen (back) this Saturday, but Aggies prop Angus Baldwin and Dubbos Roos half Luke Carney will join the squad.
CENTRAL WEST (squad): Justin Roberts (Narromine), Matt Waterford (Bulldogs), Rob Elliott (Roos), Tim Berry (CSU), Anthony Begg (CSU), Andrew Hubbard (Forbes), Andrew McPherson (Narromine), Jono Cody (Bulldogs), Andrew Breen (Bulldogs), Greg Moxey (Forbes), Josh Tremain (Orange City), Mick Sheeny (Cowra), Daniel Muldoon (Orange City), Darren Davis (Orange City), Leon Larsen (Cowra), Trent Rengarr (Forbes), Murray Fraser (Forbes), Andrew McCann (CSU), Ben McAlpine (CSU), Tim Barrett (Cowra), Simon Meiklejohn (CSU), Luke Carney (Roos), Dean Mathews (Roos), Rob Deacon (CSU), Matt McGregor (Parkes), Nic Job (Yeoval), Angus Baldwin (Aggies).