Round 14 of the Oilsplus South West Rugby Competition marks the end of the normal playing season. Round 14 sees the Young Yabbies take on the Temora Tuskers at the home of Young Rugby, Cranfield Oval.
Despite being the final round and neither team able to make finals, this game is anything but a dead rubber! This match will be the decider for 5th place and it is also a critically important match for both clubs with it being the coveted Adam McGregor Memorial Shield match.
This round also sees a great opportunity for the development of the club with an exhibition match of Women’s Rugby (Cootamundra v Temora) to help the club continue the momentum that has been built in developing a Women’s Rugby team for the 2020 season.
The Forward Pack
The Front Row remains unchanged from the Yabbies victory over West Wyalong last weekend with Hooker Will Munday being flanked by Loosehead Prop Hagon Williams and Tighthead Prop Jesh Smith. The Second Row this week is also unchanged with Rowan Daley again partnering up with Dan Cormie. Flanking on the side of the scrum this week will be two of the Yabbies’ Kelpie Pack in Dan Parker and Tom Hurley. Tom Kent will return to the forwards this week as Number 8 after a stellar performance out of position last week in the Centres.
The Backs
The Backs this week will be commanded by Angus Crawford as Flyhalf, with his partner in crime who will be providing pristine ball will be Captain Brendan Shoard as Scrumhalf. The Centres this week see Inside Centre Jesse Pittman partnering up with Nick Schiller as Outside Centre. The Yabbies Wingers Beau O’Connor and Hugh McInerney will partner up again for the final clash of the year. Owen Griffiths will return to snipe from the back and more than hold his own in defence this week, running on as Fullback for the Yabbies.
The Bench
This week the Yabbies’ First XV will be complemented by a string of high-calibre substitutes including Ben Fuller, Tom Wills, Cam Rosser, Dan O’Connor, Ed Brand, Matt Reid and Mick Hudson.
Following a nail biter in Round 7 of the Oilsplus South West Rugby Competition, which saw Temora take the chocolates 26-24, the game this weekend is expected to be another high-octane hit out to decide who will end up in 5th place for the 2019 season.
Coach Ned Mullany is confident that the squad named has the ability to get another Win on the board this weekend. “It’s been a tough season, tougher than I initially thought it would be, but the squad has become really tight with morale high both on and off the field. Whilst we haven’t had all the results we’ve wanted this year, I think we’ve really developed as a team and I’m hoping that we can really highlight that in this match.”
The weather for this weekend is expected to start to warm up a bit, with a top of 15°C predicted for this Saturday in Young. As always, a Rugby match means that there is a high chance of some delicious cold beers for Supporters on the sidelines and in the Oilsplus South West Rugby Competition it means that there is an excellent chance of some highly competitive and entertaining Rugby.
So search for any excuse you can find to make sure you're down at Cranfield Oval for an action-packed afternoon of Rugby including the Women’s match of Cootamundra v Temora and to support your Young Yabbies as they take on the Temora Tuskers for the Adam McGregor Memorial Shield this Saturday 20th July, with the ladies kicking off at 2.15pm.
Always remember - Saturday’s a Rugby Day!
