The last time that the Carcoar Crows took to the field in a serious competitive manner was in 2001, and on Saturday they'll be back in a big way.
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The Western Rugby League's inaugural Community Cup will provide an opportunity for the Crows, along with CSU Mungals, Burrangong Bears and the Orange Barbarians to enjoy the fun and atmosphere of a short round-robin style footy competition.
Crows organiser Adam Lowe said that the side was all locals with a fair bit of Blayney Bears talent thrown in.
"We have a few young Carcoar locals as well as some Bears talent and some guys that haven't played for a few years all coming for a run," he said.
Spread over four weeks the competition is designed for communities that struggle to sustain a team in a traditional competition.
"It's 11 a side and 15 minute halves with flexible rules regarding numbers playing and things like that," Lowe said.
Having Carcoar back is unreal, they haven't had a side in a long time and it's good for the region.
- Barbarians captain-coach Ben Gosper
This Saturday they're heading to Spring Hill for the first round and will be playing in Carcoar on September 7, and Barbarians coach Ben Gosper said he was thrilled to be able to not only take on the Crows, but hopefully push them back towards being a regular fixture.
"Having Carcoar back is unreal, they haven't had a side in a long time and it's good for the region. They've got a few of the Blayney guys signed up so they'll be a good side," he said
"I think if Carcoar do well they'll push to get a side in the New Era Cup next year, and that's what it's all about."
The terrain at Spring Hill is another throwback for Gosper, with the potential to line up on what "could be a cow paddock" thrilling him. "It'll be pretty cool ... Someone will have thrown some posts up.
"I think that's one of the big influences on it getting footy out to places that don't normally see it. I know a few guys out there and they'll be popping up to watch a bit," he said.
Although as much as he loves the concept, Gosper isn't seeing it as just a social hit and giggle event - the Barbarians aren't going to hand out victories to returning sides.
"It's competitive and we still want to win but we'll he having a bit of fun with it as well," he said.
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Max Stainkamph
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Max joined the CWD in September 2017, leaving the big smoke of Melbourne to come to Orange, where he stayed until 2020.
Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
