August 1: Western return to Orange: It is announced the NSW Country Southern Pool Championships will be played in Orange. Having won the 2012-13 country title, Western is given the chance to defend its championship on home turf.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
August 1: Three titles a masterful effort: Orange wins three titles at the Hockey NSW Women's Masters Southern State Championships in Parkes. The over 35s, 40s and 50s are all named champions, going through their respective campaigns undefeated.
August 2: Super CYMS secure top three spot: Kyran Bubb scores a hat trick to lead CYMS to a 40-18 victory over Bathurst St Pat's, securing a top three spot leading into the Group 10 finals.
August 2: Countdown to Asia-Pacific Games: Luke Rout (athletics), Sienna Boland, Dean Pallier and Keelan Crawford (basketball) will don the green and gold, after being named to represent Australia at the Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games in December, in Newcastle.
August 5: Bright Spark: Orange City skipper Michael Sparks has a field day in the Lions' 55-18 win over CSU Bathurst. Sparks plays a hand in no less than seven of the Lions' nine tries, including five in the first half, setting up the bonus point win.
August 5: Kinross-CYMS end Panthers streak: The Pete Shea coached Kinross-CYMS score a 2-1 victory over the Lithgow Panthers in women's Premier League Hockey, ending the Panthers 16-game winning streak.
August 6: Judges think the world of Brian: After winning the 60-64 years Olympic distance event at the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Age Championships, Brian Kennelly is named Orange Credit Union's 2012 Sportsperon of the Year. Toby Westcott (martial arts) is named the Junior Sportsperson while Orange City Rugby and Orange Netball are crowned joint Team of the Year winners. Orange City dedicates the award to the former Central West Rugby Union, and club president and life member, the late Charlie Brouwers.
August 9: Blayney books its spot: The Blayney Rams are the first team into the Australian National Field Days Southern Zone decider after defeating Molong 19-9 in the major semi-final.
August 10: People make their choice: The People's Choice Group 10 Team of the Year is named; 1. Tim Bassman (CYMS), 2. Alofi Mataele (Hawks), 3. Jackson Brien (Oberon), 4. Dom Maley (CYMS), 5. Cody Robbins (CYMS), 6. Tim Holman (St Pat's), 7. Mat Stott (Mudgee), 8. Luke Single (St Pat's), 9. Trent Hemsworth (St Pat's), 10. Ron Lawrence (Cowra), 11. Zac Merrit (St Pat's), Chris Anau (Hawks), Brendon Van Veen (Lithgow).
August 12: Hawks minor celebration: Orange Hawks wins its first Group 10 minor premiership since 1999, thanks to rivals Orange CYMS. CYMS secure an 18-8 win over Lithgow Workies, ensuring Hawks the top spot after the regular season, and setting up a rematch against Lithgow in the qualifying final.
August 12: Major concerns: Despite fielding its strongest team of the season, the Orange Tigers are thrashed by 82 points in the Central West AFL major semi-final against Bathurst Bushrangers, gifting the Bushrangers the right to host the grand final.
August 13: High hopes for Dragons' future: St George-Illawarra Dragons Ben Hornby and Dean Young visit Orange, as part of the Dragons' High Performance Unit, to put several Orange rugby league players through their paces.
August 13: Wombats ready to step up: The Mudgee Wombats Rugby Club announce they will be re-entering the Central West Blowes Clothing Cup in 2014. After a 10-year hiatus, the Wombats will enter first grade, second grade and colts teams.
August 14: Hopwood's golden knowledge: Ex-Services' Sam Hopwood helps NSW to win the Australian Country Hockey Championships, defeating Western Australia 4-1 in a grand final shootout.
August 16: Success starts with juniors: Orange City wraps up its third consecutive Central West Junior Rugby Union club championship by winning the under 15s and 17s minor premierships, and finishing third in under 13s.
August 17: Orange City goes two in a row: Orange City wraps up its second consecutive undefeated Central West Blowes Clothing Cup minor premiership with a 32-18 victory over cross-town rivals Emus, also securing the the Barry Edwards Cup, played between the two clubs, while the Lions second graders and colts also secure their respective minor premierships.
August 17: All Orange Group 10 decider: With a second victory over Lithgow Workies in as many weeks, Orange CYMS ensure the Group 10 grand final will be played in Orange, setting up a major semi-final grudge match against Hawks.
August 17: Tigers secure multiple grand finals berths: The Orange Tigers Central West AFL first graders and under 18s secure spots in the 2013 grand finals by downing Cowra and Young respectively.
August 20: Wighton's season over: Jack Wighton's NRL season with the Canberra Raiders comes to an end after he fractures his right fibula in his team's 28-16 loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs.
August 21: Back to where it all began: Orange-born striker Nathan Burns arrives to the Newcastle Jets on loan from Incheon United.
August 21: Blayney's streak comes to an end: The Blayney Rams' dream of back-to-back undefeated ANFD Cup premierships comes crashing down, losing by a solitary point to the Molong Magpies.
August 21: When close isn't close enough: Orange Emus coach Andrew Logan gives a brutally honest assessment of his team's Central West Blowes Clothing Cup campaign following the green's last round, local derby loss to eventual premiers Orange City. Logan says Emus are deserved recipients of the wooden spoon, despite lingering just outside the top five all season.
August 21: Lions farewell 'heart and soul of club': After the passing of Charlie Brouwers earlier in the month, Orange City farewells another club stalwart in Jack Blunt after succumbing to long term illness. Blunt was a founding member of the Lions.
August 24: Lithgow star's 16 month ban: Lithgow Workies' Group 10 finals campaign is thrown into disarray with star lock Jono Van Veen handed a 16 month suspension having been found guilty of striking with the knees, striking with the elbows and given a misconduct charge after an altercation with the Orange CYMS crowd.
August 24: People make their choice, again: The People's Choice Blowes Clothing Cup Team of the Year is announced; 1. Brian Swords (Cowra), 2. Josh Tremain (Orange City), 3. Jim Roberts (Emus), 4. Toby Key (CSU), 5. Chris Barrett (Orange City), 6. Adam Mieklejohn (Cowra), 7. Duncan Young (Orange City), 8. James King (Forbes), 9. James Duff (CSU), 10. Ted Bates (Dubbo 'Roos), 11. Sione 'Junior' Lafou (Orange City), 12. Luke Brown (Narromine), 13. Josh Coulthurst (Forbes), 14. Sam Powell (Orange City), 15. Jack Garrad (CSU).
August 26: Hawks first in: Brock McGarity nails a 45-metre penalty goal in the dying minutes of the Group 10 major semi-final to defeat CYMS 12-11, and secure Hawks' spot in the decider.
August 26: Tigers take the flag: The Orange Tigers reverse the CWAFL major semi-final result, defeating the Bathurst Bushrangers by three points in the decider, winning its first flag in a decade. The Tigers under 18s lose out to the Bushrangers by 20 points.
August 26: CYMS are Orange's leading ladies: Orange CYMS women's league tag team secures its place in the grand final by defeating minor premiers Bathurst St Pat's 14-10.
August 31: Different group, same result for McAlpine: CYMS five-eighth Ben McAlpine completes a rare Country Rugby League double, taking home the Group 10 Player of the Year award, one year after receiving the same award for Young, in Group 9.
THEY SAID IT:
"This is the first one I've played in. Corey [McKenzie] has been playing footy for 25 years and hadn't played in a grand final. It is very special to win one for him and for Pearcey" - Orange Tigers full forward Tim Barry after his team's stunning CWAFL grand final upset over Bathurst.
"It is a real tribute for the players to dedicate the award to him. Charlie would be very proud they did that. I'm very proud of the boys to be able to do that" - Orange City president Steve Stone on the Lions first graders dedicating their Team of the Year award to the late Charlie Brouwers.
THE FIVE MOST READ SPORT STORIES ON THE CENTRAL WESTERN DAILY WEBSITE IN AUGUST, 2013:
1. VOTE NOW: 2013 Blowes Clothing Cup Team of the Year; 2. VOTE NOW: 2013 Group 10 Team of the Year; 3. CYMS' win ensures Orange decider; 4. Heartbreak for CYMS; 5. Lions farewell Blunt: 'heart and soul of the club'.