NORMALLY a direct path into the Group 10 junior representative squad and then Western Rams side, tomorrow’s Orange CYMS under 18s knockout will be little more than a hit out for the competition’s best young talent in 2013.
The Country Rugby League Under 18s Regional Championship has been moved from April to the June long weekend this winter and as a result, the region’s regular selection trial will now serve simply as a pre-season warm up for clubs.
Group 10 selectors now won’t pick a representative side to trial for Western Rams positions against Group 11 and Group 14 until later in the season, with competition games set to be used as the ideal way to sort the cream from the crop.
The carnival, which often serves as a pretty good form guide ahead of the regular season, will begin with Orange Hawks taking on Blayney Bears from 9.30am.
Bathurst St Pat’s and Orange CYMS will also square off at the same time.
Bathurst Panthers will then tackle Blackheath in the 10.10am time slot with Cowra and Oberon also playing in the second round.
Workies and Mudgee round out the initial knockout phase of the competition.
The semi-finals of the 2013 CYMS under 18s knockout begin from 1.30pm and the final is set down for 2.20pm. All matches are being played at Norton Park tomorrow.
