KEY MAN: Orange City star Duncan Young is looking forward to running out with the Blue Bulls this weekend. Photo: NICK McGRATH 0321nmduncan
HE is the quiet achiever in a Lions pack that help take Orange City all the way to the 2012 Blowes Clothing Cup first grade title, and now Duncan Young is hoping to elevate the Blue Bulls back to where they belong too.
The Central West Rugby Union’s senior representative outfit takes on Western Plains tomorrow in the first game of the NSW Country Rugby Union Championship in Tamworth.
It’s a must-win clash for the Blue Bulls.
Competing in the second division Richardson Shield, the Central West must beat Western Plains then either Far North Coast or Mid North Coast in the second round to progress through to the shield’s final on Sunday.
The Matt McRobert-coached Blue Bulls then have their eyes on taking out the shield and earning a shot at promotion into the top division Caldwell Cup, silverware the zone hasn’t won since 2003.
Young, 22, is optimistic about his side’s shot at redemption.
“We’ve come together quite well so far throughout the campaign. We’ve only had a couple of games but we’ve played alright so far. Hopefully we should do well,” the open-side breakaway said.
“We don’t know a lot about Western Plains, we just have to play our best football and that should be good enough to win the game.”
A Central West 20s representative for three years, Young got his first taste of open representative rugby last season in the Blue Bulls’ heart-breaking 13-10 loss to Illawarra in Mudgee.
Fellow Lion Josh Tremain, as well as Orange Emus Isaac White and Tim Alison, are on deck to help Young this campaign.
Of the quartet, Alison is the only Orange player yet to taste any action for the Blue Bulls.
A tough outside back, Alison admits playing with the Central West was the furthest thing from his mind when he first started out at Emus last winter.
But, on his way to Tamworth today, the 24-year-old is preparing to help the zone get back to the top.
“Obviously our main goal is to win every game and get back in the main division,” Alison said, with a view of elevating the Bulls back into the Caldwell Cup.
“But at the same time we recognise we have to take it one game at a time.
“Western Plains will be tough. They’ve got a few new guys in key positions. They’ll be a lot different to last season.”
CENTRAL WEST: 1 Chris Plunkett, 2 Josh Tremain, 3 Amoni Vea, 4 Israel Symington, 5 Dan Ryan, 6 Josh Sinisa, 7 Duncan Young, 8 Peter Fitzsimmons, 9 Phil Tonkin, 10 Mahe Fangupo, 11 Filisone Pauta, 12 Charlie Luteru, 13 Tim Alison, 14 Jack Garad, 15 Scott Burgess.