GROUP 19’s Under 14 junior rugby league team is to play a touring Balmain side at Uralla on Sunday.
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It will be the fifth meeting between the two teams, said Group 19 Under 14 spokesman, Brad White.
“Previous games have been close encounters and played at high levels for junior rugby league,” White said.
“To-date the games have been shared with two wins each so Group 19 will be keen to keep in front.”
He said the 2001 game will be played for the George Thompson Memorial Shield.
“George was a long serving Balmain development manager and was responsible for getting these representative games up and running,” White said.
“After playing Group 19, Balmain will continue their tour with games against Group 18, Group 1 and Group 2 before returning home.”
White said the Group 19 side is now a much tighter unit with the experience of games against Mackay and Group 1 earlier in the year at Murwillumbah. Despite having lost these games, the squad learnt some valuable lessons about playing representative games at a higher intensity and commitment level.
“The squad will also be strengthened by the return of Mat Cleal, Clinton Lavander and Steve Churchland who missed the Murwillumbah games,” he said.
“The squad is also strengthened by the addition of Brett Stapleton and Michael O’Brien. Brett earlier this year had a successful tour of Canada with athletics and will now turn his speed and size to rugby league.”
Unfortunately Walcha’s Duncan Elks is unavailable for the game. Duncan played strongly at Murwillumbah but will be turning his talents to a rodeo camp for the weekend.
White said the game will be played on NRL grand final day but played early enough (11am kick-off) so as to not interfere with anyone wanting to watch the Grand Final that night.
“So if anyone wants to make it a full day of Rugby League and see some emerging talents destined for senior Group 19 Rugby League or NRL success, get out to Uralla on Sunday and watch some talented Rugby League players,” he said.
“This will be a good way for spectators to end the 2001 Rugby League season.”
GROUP 19 UNDER 14s: Justin Fox, Shawn Poss (Uralla), Sam Mulligan (Guyra), Hugh Buxton (Armidale), Troy Yarnold, Steve Scherff (Walcha), Brett Stapleton (Glen Innes), Matthew Marshall (Moree), Matthew Cleal, Dallas Reading, Chris Kirkland, Steve Churchland (Warialda), Clinton Lavander, Sam White, William Lee, Scott Morgan, Michael O’Brien (Inverell).
