HE’S led Blayney to its best start to a Group 10 premier league season since the club re-entered the competition in 2013, and after a strong showing for Group 10 Bears captain-coach Dane Howarth was rewarded with Western Division selection.
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Despite leaving the field in Group 10’s tough loss to Group 11 with an abdominal tear - which also ruled him out of Blayney’s win over Cowra the next day - Howarth did enough to earn a spot in the Rams’ squad, alongside seven of his Group 10 teammates.
Howarth will be joined by Simon Osborne (Orange CYMS), Ben McAlpine (Orange CYMS), Corin Smith (Mudgee), Benjamin John (Bathurst St Pat’s), Jack Afamasaga (Mudgee), Demetrius Anu (Mudgee) and Gary Reilly (Bathurst St Pat’s), despite the last three not fronting for Group 10 in the trial.
“I’m very happy with the selection,” Howarth said.
“I haven’t played for Western Division since under 18s. I’ve had a lot of injuries and a year off since then.
“The body didn’t hold up for the entire game for Group 10, but I’ll go to training [this week] and see how it holds up.”
Howarth didn’t want to speculate too much on the somewhat controversial selections, but in the circumstances - Reilly was representing New Zealand at the Federation of International Touch World Cup while Afamasaga and Anu were ruled out due to injury - he said he was struggling to recall a better looking Rams side on paper.
“There are a few selections some people won’t agree with ... but I think it’s one of the strongest sides picked for a while,” Howarth said.
Western Division will be buoyed by home-ground advantage in its first clash, with Bathurst given the nod to host a Country Rugby League Regional Championship double header at the end of the month.
The Rams take on the Greater Northern Tigers on Saturday, May 30 at Bathurst’s Carrington Park.