March 1: Where do we play now?: Orange Waratahs president Darren Sinclair says his club's leading Western Premier League players will have to filter through the Orange A grade competition after the region's premier football premiership dissolved. A last-minute nominations back flip from reigning champions Dubbo FC left just three sides to contest the 2013 tournament resulted in its demise.
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March 1: Visitors soaked in Eagle glory: Glen Raymond and Phil Westcott come from behind to win this year's Konami City of Orange Golden Eagle Pairs Classic, edging out Jamen Lewis and Tomas Nathan in a classic, rain-drenched final. Forced into extra ends after Westcott and Raymond clawed their way back from 18-12 down to draw level at 20, the pair won 21-20 win a vintage display of bowls.
March 2: On your marks: Over 700 children flood Waratahs Sportsground as the Orange Little Athletics Club hosts this year's Little Athletics NSW State Multi-event Championship. Competing in a range of events in order to win medals, junior athletes from under 7s through to under 17s ran, jumped and threw their way to state titles.
March 4: WHK wins up season with grand final win: WHK capped off an unbeaten season in the City of Orange Touch Association mixed division one premiership, knocking off Bills Giants 8-3 in the decider.
March 4: Orange club's watertight case: The Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club claims its fourth-straight Central West Iner-Club Triathlo crown with another dominant display. More than 80 Piranhas lined up for the final round of the 2012-13 series at Lake Canobolas, with Orange's 1200 points easily eclipsing any total of its Central West rivals, with Mudgee the next best with 758 points.
March 4: Thanks Orange: Steve Morgan is overwhelmed by the show of support at the Morgan Brothers Ball. Run in honour of Steve's brother Trent after the local league identity was tragically killed in a car accident in November, 2012, the ball was attended by 400 people including former NRL players Brett finch and Todd Payten.
March 6: Mitch ups ante after fourth in 10,000m: Orange distance runner Mitch Williamson finishes fourth in the 10,000 metres at the Open Track and Field Championships at Sydney's Olympic Park. Williamson posted a personal best time of 31 minutes 26.23 seconds.
March 11: All to play for this weekend: Boundy: Orange City loses its Orange District Cricket Association final round clash against Cavaliers, but Warriors skipper Dave Boundy labels the five-wicket loss a non-event with his side unable to move from third win, lose or draw. Orange City is drawn to meet Cavaliers again in the preliminary final.
March 12: Duntry scrapes into final: Duntryleague wins a berth in the 2013 Central Western District Golf Association division one final by virtue of victory in one of the closest semi-finals in the tournament's history. Duntryleague edges out 2012 champions Bathurst, winning 3-2 with three of the five matches needing extra holes to decide a winner.
March 14: Madie's hungry for more: Madie Smith returns from the Australian All Schools side's tour of New Zealand and Argentina hungry to continue her meteoric rise through the hockey representative ranks. Smith's Australia side defeated an Auckland under 21s side before suffering a loss to the Argentinean under 18s national side.
March 15: Slack-Smith throws down serious challenge: Volleyball NSW chief executive Michelle Slack-Smith is confident a central west entry could be competitive at the State Cup, set to be held in Orange. Slack-Smith's sentiment comes as Anzac Park prepares to host the event for the third straight year.
March 18: City's grand plans: Orange City book its place in the Orange District Cricket Association grand final courtesy of a dominant eight-wicket win over Cavaliers. Preparing to face minor premiers CYMS, Orange City is led brilliantly by Jono Warren (4-24) and Shaun Grenfell (78) as the Warriors chase down Cavaliers first innings total of 129 with ease.
March 18: Chargers the surprise packets: The YBM Chargers celebrated victory in the Orange City 2013 Rugby Invitational 10s. Featuring a number of premiership winning Lions players, the Chargers went throughout the Pride Park-based tournament undefeated, bettering defending champions The Island Boys 29-12 in the final.
March 18: Hawks take first bragging rights for 2013: Orange Hawks snare the first local derby of the 2013 season, beating CYMS 12-8 in the first round of the Bathurst Knockout at Carrington Park. The two blues don't progress much further, however, with Bathurst St Pat's taking the $3000 purse courtesy of a 14-10 win over Mudgee in the final.
March 18: Shea can see upside to defeat: The 2013 women's Premier League Hockey season begins, with all three Orange sides failing in their big to record a first up victory. Confederates were the best performed outfit, snaring a 0-all draw with Parkes United, but both Kinross-CYMS (2-1 versus Lithgow Zig Zag) and Orange Ex-Services (2-1 versus Bathurst City) start the year with a loss.
March 19: Back with a bang: Duntryleague skipper Robert Payne describes his side's 4-1 victory in the final of the 2013 Central Western District Golf Association division one pennants as very "satisfying". The comprehensive victory over Wellington comes just 12 months after the Duntry club was forced to miss its title defence due to a scheduling clash with the Duntryleague club championship.
March 20: Rhinos extinct in top tier: Dubbo Rhinos withdraw from the 2013 Blowes Clothing Cup following crisis talks with Central West Rugby Union officials. Facing the disappointing reality of not being able to fill first, second and colts sides for the season, the Rhinos are relegated to the Australian National Field Days northern pool.
March 21: Parkes, Mudgee wave the white flag: Mudgee and Parkes signal their intentions not to field a senior side in this year's Central West AFL competition. CWAFL general manager Tony Lewis labels it a "sign of the times".
March 25: City too slick: Orange City wins its second piece of silverware for the summer with an emphatic outright victory over CYMS in the Orange District Cricket Association's two-day final. Adding to the Royal Hotel Cup already in the trophy cabinet, the Warriors scuttle CYMS for just 58 in the first innings to set up the victory.
March 26: Gough earns player gong: Cavaliers, Orange, Mitchell and Western Zone quick Liam Gough earns back-to-back Orange District Cricket Association Player of the Year awards following a break-through season on the representative scene.
March 28: Making a splash: Kinross breaks through to win its maiden Bathurst Water Polo grand final. The students won 11-3 over the Pirates.
THEY SAID IT:
"We've tried and tried, year after year and we finally got there" - Orange City skipper Dave Boundy following his side's first grade Orange District Cricket Association premeirship win, the club's first since 1998-99.
THE FIVE MOST READ SPORT STORIES ON THE CENTRAL WESTERN DAILY WEBSITE IN MARCH, 2013:
1. Hawks take first bragging rights for 2013; 2. City stalwarts' fitting farewell; 3. CYMS beat pre-season blues; 4. Orange cricket's title fight; 5: CYMS looking within.
