The first under 23s clash between Group 10 and Group 11 was strong, standard wise.

Ask Group 11 gun Sam Dwyer and he says it was the toughest win he’s been part of in the red and blacks’ run of three straight victories in Western Rams trials.

That’s a big call. The game was quick, the hits probably less brutal than an opens game, but the closeness of the contest at least made for a gripping clash.

But I can’t be the only one that thought what it?

You couldn’t help but look at the players that ran out and wonder how they’d fare against an open Group side, from either region.

So, why not have an open Group 10 team take on an open Group 11 side on the same day? The players are there. Wouldn’t it add to the carnival?

The league tag trials were wonderful, Group 10 has a stand-out side this year. Deserved champions. Tick that off.

I’m 50-50 on whether or not there needed to be a Group 10-Group 11 under 18s clash given the country championships was run and won, by Western, almost a month ago.

But given Woodbridge Cup and Castlereagh-Barwon leagues also sent sides to play in the under 18s, I get why that age group was run as well. Give that a tick too.

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And for the purposes of picking a Rams side to contest the under 23s country championship, those games were great, too. Another tick.

But there’s no justification as to why an opens game can’t be contested as well.

The under 23s stuff is worth persisting with. If CRL is determined to give the concept the time and effort it needs so it’s fostered correctly, the so too should Western.

But does that mean 24-year-old players should be told they’re done and dusted in terms of rep footy?

Absolutely not. Far from it.

The majority of the stand-out players in both Group 10 and Group 11 are over the age of 23, save for the likes of Dwyer and Forbes gun Ben Maguire. They’ve been rep players now for at least three years.

So let’s get the best players running out on a day like we had at Parkes on Saturday. Bigger crowd, bigger gate, better game?

How’s this for a couple of sides? It’s made up of players not eligible for the under 23s concept.

You be the judge.

GROUP 10: 1 Jeremy Gordon, 2 Abel Lefaoseu, 3 Ben McAlpine, 4 Corin Smith, 5 Cameron Picker, 6 Willie Heta, 7 Doug Hewitt, 8 Chris Bamford, 9 Luke Carpenter, 10 Brent Seager, 11 Jono Van Veen, 12 Hamish Bryant, 13 Jack Afamasaga; Bench: 14 Sione Tongia, 15 Tim Mortimer, 16 Simon Osborne, 17 Trent Rose.

GROUP 11: 1 Kieran Cubby-Shipp, 2 Brad Pickering, 3 Jyie Chapman, 4 Stewart Mills, 5 Ash Widders, 6 Jacob Neill, 7 Josh Merritt, 8 Zac Merritt, 9 Luke Jenkins, 10 Jarryn Powyer, 11 Jake Grace, 12 Luke Thompson, 13 Shane Lalogafau; Bench: 14 Mitch Davis, 15 Colt Tairua, 16 Billy Sing, 17 Damien Wells

Orange Hawks, outstanding.

Wade Park was a pretty lonely place last year during the 2016 Group 10 season when the two blues were playing.

But Sunday was a special day for the club.

Sure, it was only round three. But for that club to beat the defending premiers is massive. It’ll mean an absolute bumper derby with CYMS come round five.

A finals spot is there for the taking if Willie Heta’s side wants it. They’re certainly good enough.

Can anybody stop them?

The Blowes Clothing Cup appears to be Orange Emus’ for the taking after the greens again put the cleaners through their opposition, this time Cowra.

The two-time defending champions have scored at least 59 points all of their games to date, including in their grand final re-match with Forbes.

Realistically, Emus could put 100 on Mudgee in their next round, while a derby in the following round will no doubt provide a much sterner test.

The premiers’ most difficult run of games is over a three-week period to end the first round, with Parkes, Dubbo Roos and Bathurst Bulldogs – the other most impressive sides to start the competition – drawn in succession. 

FEDS WIN. FEDS WIN.

It’s been a number of years since anyone could really be excited about Confederates in premier league hockey, but the red and blues have certainly justified the hype with a resounding round one win over Souths on Saturday.

Read into it what you will. It is only round one, after all.

But Fiona Reith’s side is making all the right moves at the right times. Lock them in the finals.