sport, local-sport

It has been an 11-year drought but Central West can safely say it is back at the top of NSW Country Rugby Union. On Sunday both Central West’s colts and seniors won the top tier competitions of the NSW Country Rugby Union Championships at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium. This is the first time since 2003 that Central West has won both the senior and colts titles. On Sunday Central West seniors became the first side in seven years to take down defending NSW Country champions Newcastle Hunter in a dominant 36-14 display. They earned their place in the final by accounting for Illawarra 19-5 in Saturday’s semi-final. The Blue Bulls colts became back-to-back Rowlands Cup premiers after downing Central Coast 15-5 in Sunday’s decider. On Saturday they thumped Far North Coast 46-7 to book their place in the colts final. Central West Rugby Union chief executive, Peter Veenstra, said he was impressed to see the region back to its best. “It’s 11 years since we’ve done that. 2003 was the last time (Central West won the Caldwell Cup),” he said. “Both teams have worked exceptionally hard for this and it’s been a well-planed campaign and this has borne fruit. “Last year the seniors won the Richardson Shield and were promoted into the Caldwell Cup and the goal was to take out the cup this year. “It’s a great achievement by the coaching and management teams of both sides. We can look forward to trying to defend those titles in 2015.” This is something not lost on both Central West coaches. Seniors coach Matt McRobert said this had been in the planning for several years. “In the last few years we’ve seen the dominance of Orange City, and if you work hard the rewards come and you can build a dynasty [like Newcastle],” he said. 'JUST MAGIC': BLUE BULLS GO FROM CELLAR DWELLERS TO CALDWELL CUP CHAMPIONS CENTRAL WEST COLTS PUT NEED FOR SPEED ASIDE TO SECURE BACK-TO-BACK TITLES “We had something to aspire to within the zone and it helped us.” Colts co-coach John Hamilton said his side knew the importance too. “I’m really happy for the boys. They come from all over the zone and play as a team,” he said. “A couple from last year certainly helped us because we’ve got a bit of a game plan and they understand what we’re trying to do and what we’re trying to achieve.” Given the success of the central west teams, Veenstra expects that to filter back to the Blowes Clothing Cup sides. “I think, given we’ve won both of these, the seniors and juniors, it says to me that the depth we can expect to come out of the zone is very good,” Veenstra said. “I think it will be a motivator. “I would be thinking we’ll be having a very good year in Blowes Clothing Cup.”

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