Mid North Coast might be the newest addition to the NSW Country Rugby Union Championships’ top tier but make no mistake, the promoted Axeman aren’t going all the way to Warren to make up the numbers in this weekend’s Caldwell Cup.
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Far from it in fact.
For so long the Axemen jousted with Western Plains to avoid the second tier wooden spoon but now they’ve tasted success, they want more.
In a bid to back up 2017’s 40-year Richardson Shield drought-ending victory Mid North Coast coach Angus – who grew up in Orange and is a former Dubbo Kangaroos coach – says his zone will field one of the strongest sides it has produced.
“This season will see the strongest MNC outfit ever fielded,” Anderson told the Manning River Times.
“After our spectacular performance of 2017, the Axemen have their sights set on the state’s powerhouse zones. In my opinion you should compete against the best and win against the best.”
That side will be led by skipper Scott Munro and, of course, the mercurial AJ Gilbert.
The Axemen have their sights set on the state’s powerhouse zones.
- Mid North Coast coach Angus Anderson
The latter is a former NSW Waratah, Australian Schoolboy and a NSW Country regular, who also has a bucketload of Intrust Super Shute Shield experience and spent time as a professional in Japan and Europe as well.
Mid North Coast’s backline has also been given a massive boost this year, with 2017 Cockatoos bolter Pat Keen being added to the ranks. He made the NSW Country side from New England last year, but has been named to don the Axemen’s No.12 jersey this weekend.
The Axemen, so named after the cedar-cutting pioneers of the region, will face the Pauli Tuala-led Illawarra in their first clash this weekend, kicking off at 1.30pm on Saturday afternoon.
- MID NORTH COAST: 1 Tavita Talamaivao (Port Macquarie), 2 Josh Bray (Wauchope), 3 Peter Gowler (Port Macquarie), 4 Ed McGrath (Grafton), 5 Scott Munro © (Port Macquarie), 6 Sam Callow (SCU), 7 AJ Gilbert (SCU), 8 Tim Anderson (SCU), 9 Lloyd Simms-Chambers (Coffs Harbour), 10 Chris Logan (Gloucster), 11 James Handford (Wallamba), 12 Pat Keen (Wallamba), 13 Ed Cordingly (Wallamba), 14 Kini Dauvuce (Kempsey), 15 Ryan Yates (Gloucester); Bench: 16 Dan Hessing (Wallamba), 17 James Bellamy (Coffs Harbour), 18 Kye Marshall (Port Macquarie), 19 Jeremy Winn (Kempsey), 20 Kaes Besseling (Port Macquarie), 21 Dom Bullock (Grafton), 22 Brannon Murray (Coffs Harbour), 23 Dan Willoughby (Hastings Valley), 24 Josh Walker (Coffs Harbour)
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
