WITH an imposing record that reads 72 wins and just 13 losses, the Deadwood Rugby Club will return to Endeavour Oval for the second HeartKids Cup with every reason to feel exceptionally confident of yet another triumph.
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But Deadwood president Scott Podmore is under no illusions just how tough the 2014 Cup will be.
“As far as the game goes, the scoreboard might have blown out last year but as a player, we got beat up,” Podmore said reciting his side’s 60-19 win over a Central West Invitational side in last year’s edition of the Cup.
“They really stuck it to us. We know there’s a lot of quality in the central west and we’re going up there without any false confidence.”
Deadwood will again take on a Central West Invitational side, but the main aim of the trip is to help raise money for the HeartKids foundation.
Helping children’s charities is a creed the Deadwood boys have respected since 2009.
Formed as a means of raising money for children’s charities by a band of retired players, the Deadwood Rugby Club has gone from a small-time outfit to a renowned charity-assisting machine that’s boasted Wallaby-credentialled players right down to kids straight out of schoolboy rugby.
The side to tackle the Central West on October 25 will be no different.
“Helping out HeartKids is something that sits really well with what the club is about and we’ll go out of our way to give something back. We really enjoy doing that,” Podmore said, with the Deadwood club again running a clinic for kids the morning of the game.
“The clinic was well attended last year and hopefully that’s the case again this time.”
Podmore said the players were lining up to attend the Endeavour Oval game.
“There’s about 25 players listed to come, and a lot of the guys have NRC experience and a couple of the guys have played a handful of Super Rugby games,” he added.
“It’s roughly 80 per cent of the guys who came up last year.”
HeartKids central west regional representative Mardi Aplin was thrilled the Deadwood players were returning.
“To be honest, they’re kind of the driving force behind it all again this year,” she said.
“The Deadwood boys are really great at raising money for charities and for them to come out here and play against the great players we have in the central west is ideal for them, and it’s great for Orange to be able to see these guys play as well.
“The support we’re getting from them has been fantastic.”
The 2014 HeartKids Cup and rugby clinic will be staged at Endeavour Oval on Saturday, October 25.
The clinic will begin at 10am and cost $40.
The match will kick-off at 3.30pm.