RUGBY UNION
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NSW Country’s Central North connection are ready to rip into their City rivals at Scully Park tomorrow.
Pirates quartet Nick McCrohan, Micah Scarth, Bo Abra and Lachlan Wheeler and New England’s Percy Duncan will all wear the gold of Country in its annual fixtures against City.
McCrohan and Scarth will line up for the 17s, Abra and Duncan the 15s and Wheeler the 14s in what should be a great day of rugby, Central North juniors president Dominic Shortis said.
“It’s the pinnacle of NSW Country’s season. This is what they’ve been training towards,” Shortis said. “There’ll be some pretty good rugby on show.” The 18s have already had their clash with the Cockatoos side containing Pirates Ryan Prentice, Brad Thrift and Kerrod Binge going down by a point.
The four sides playing tomorrow all bring in good form and are fresh from strong wins down in Canberra last weekend.
The 17s beat their local opposition 41-7. It was their third comfortable win in as many games in the build-up to tomorrow.
That’s the win they want.
It is McCrohan’s second year involved with the Cockatoos and he can’t wait for tomorrow.
“It’s going to be awesome playing in Tamworth,” he said.
He’ll play at number eight and said they are fairly confident. The only worry is the ease of their victories so far, and not being too confident.
City will be another step up on what they’ve faced.
“They play a different type of structure to us,” McCrohan said.
“Also they always tend to have big, fast backs.”
Abra will also play in the forwards, packing down in the second row.
Like McCrohan its his second campaign with the Cockatoos, and he is excited about playing such a big game in front of family and friends.
“It’s so good to have it at home,” he said.
They are coming off a 26-10 win over the Vikings 16s last weekend.
“It was a good win. It’s the first loss they’ve had in two years,” Abra said.
It follows good wins over the Gold Coast Breakers and Gordon.
“Every game we’d had a convincing win, which is good,” he said.
“Last year we didn’t have a win.
“We’ve come out firing.”
Hopefully they can continue firing.
They’d love to beat the City boys.
Abra will also be pushing for a NSW jersey. The state 15s and 17s sides will be selected from the weekend.
Shortis said it was exciting to have this level of junior rugby being played in the zone.
“It’s the first time it’s really been outside the metro area,” he said.
Tomorrow’s games will kick-off at 9.30am with the U14s.
The 15s will follow at 10.40, the 16s at noon and the 17s at 1.20pm.