CYMS five-eighth Claude Gordon will be free to play in this weekend’s Group 10 major semi-final against Bathurst St Pat’s.
Gordon was reported in Saturday’s loss to St Pat’s at Wade Park for allegedly throwing an elbow at an opponent in the act of playing the ball.
But Group 10’s match review committee found the video evidence of the incident inconclusive and decided Gordon had no case to answer.
Former NSW Country half-back Warick Colley, who made a comeback from a broken ankle in CYMS’ First Division side on Saturday, loomed as a certain replacement for Gordon had he been suspended.
As it is, the choice of who will partner player-coach Mick Sullivan in the halves is still to be decided.
Gordon has filled the hole left by Colley’s pre-season injury admirably, earning a call up to the Group 10 senior side for its tier two NSW Country Rugby League Championships campaign.
As the incumbent, he should be confident of retaining his place.
But a lacklustre performance in last week’s 12-10 loss to St Pat’s, coupled with Colley’s classy return in the lower grades, has led to speculation that a switch is on the cards.
Sullivan was quoted in yesterday’s Central Western Daily as saying Colley “is too classy to be playing reserve grade. We haven’t made a decision on him this week yet but we definitely haven’t ruled him out of first grade”.
The Sullivan-Colley combination steered the green and golds to the Group 10 premiership in 2011.
There was also good news for St Pat’s, with Zac Merritt cleared to play this Sunday.
Merritt was reported for dangerous contact to the head, the incident occurring when the front rower attempted to tackle CYMS’ Scott Piper as he scored early in the second half of Saturday’s round 16 game.
The clearance is a massive boost for the Bathurst side, with Merritt a standout for either side in Saturday’s dreary conditions.
The former Canberra Raiders Toyota Cup player proved a handful for the CYMS defence all afternoon, crossing for the match-winning try, as well as getting through a mountain of defensive work.
