Western Plains prepares for Championships
Dubbo cricketers named in national Indigenous team
THREE local lads’ excellent performances at the national championships in Alice Springs over the past 10 days have resulted in them all being awarded Black Caps.
Brock Larance, the youngest of the trio, picked up several wickets and continued his impressive batting with limited opportunities to gain his first Cap, while “old stagers” Marty Jeffrey and Ben Patterson both regained theirs after missing out in 2017.
The trio showed why the Western Zone is leading the way in development of juniors, impressing with their penetrative bowling on good wickets.
Marty and Ben were the two leading wicket takers at the carnival and Brock chipped in too, enhancing his credentials as an all-rounder. WARREN is on track to host the Zone’s first-ever Caldwell and Richardson Cup series at the end of April.
Up to 3000 players, officials and supporters are expected to converge on the sports-mad town on the banks of the Macquarie River.
It is an extravaganza that pits the best of the best in the quest for Country Rugby’s prestigious silverware.
“It also gives the winning Zones bragging rights,” event coordinator Greg Whiteley smiled.
“Warren’s had experience handling big events in recent years so we are excited to be hosting this time-honoured festival,” he continued.
“This community pulls together to make sure everyone who visits leaves with a smile and a bagful of positives. The local racecourse will become a tent city for players, and other visitors will be accommodated throughout the shire with the generosity of families who will open their homes and properties,” Greg said.
The Caldwell Cup-richardson Shield contests will be complemented with the Colts (Under-20s) championships and junior coaching and development and “friendlies” to encourage rugby lovers from right across the state to participate in the celebration. I WROTE last week of the passing of Greg Prince, a silken five-eighth who had left an indelible imprint on Country rugby.
This week, a sad note about the passing of another Western Plains rugby legend.
Where Pricey was what the modern-day players call “a hoolio (Julio)”, Tom was like one of those affectionately known as “a piggy”!
Tom Cullen, it must be said, was the complete antithesis of Greg Prince on the rugby paddock – a no-frills, no-holds-barred prop forward from the Coonamble Rams.
Where Greg used speed, dazzling footwork and a rare ability to seize the opportunity to tear the defence apart, Tom used his bullocking frame to prop up the scrum and his bulk to create havoc on the ground in the days when “rucks were rucks”!
Both exhibited the very best qualities of those who play the game they believe “was made in heaven”. They were farmers, community-builders, renowned as “great blokes”.
Tom served many terms as Mayor of Coonamble. He was awarded an OAM last year in recognition of his selfless community work and the major contribution he had made to wool and other rural industries in Australia, and fought the bravest of battles against insidious brain cancer.
Tom’s toughness was at the fore in his final years. The prop forward who had shirt-fronted grizzled opposite packs never shirked his duty on the field. As one old friend told me, “He wasn’t pretty but he was bloody effective, a renowned member of the rugby ‘piggies club’ of crooked-nosed, ragged-eared forwards!”
Tom was renowned for his sense of humour, his willingness to “get involved” in all aspects of community life and his inexhaustible love of family.
Greg was farewelled during the week; Tom’s funeral is this Saturday at 10 am in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Coonamble.