All three Mudgee Mudcrabs teams have been dealt difficult draws for next week’s NSW Touch State Cup at Port Macquarie.
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Mudgee will send three teams - mixed open, men’s open and women’s 20s - to the annual tournament.
The last time Mudgee sent three sides was in 2010; last year Mudgee only had the men’s opens and women’s 20s. Unfortunately only one win was recorded between the two sides, which was a forfeit.
This year, Mudgee could well be in for a tough time again.
The Mudcrabs will play some of the state’s best teams in touch football.
Mudgee mixed get their account underway against Taren Point (1), the second-ranked team in the draw, before playing Harrington in their final game on Friday.
The men’s opens have been grouped with ninth-ranked Manly Sea Eagles (1), Hornsby Lions (2) and Nelson Bay Neptunes - the side that knocked them out of last year’s tournament.
But unlike previous State Cup tournaments where teams were split into A, B and C-grade competitions, every opens team are grouped together in their respective competitions.
Teams in the three Open divisions will play all of their preliminary round matches on Friday.
Depending where teams finished in their pool, they will then be placed into final series groups - championships, bowl, trophy and shield - and those games will be played on Saturday and Sunday morning. The semi-finals and grand final are played on Sunday afternoon.
NSW Touch Association (NSWTA) sport manager Daniel Rushworth said the association changed the format after speaking to several touch affiliates, officials and players.
“Over the past 12 months NSWTA has received substantial feedback in relation to the configuration of the Open divisions and how they have been delivered, both in outcomes and value to our participants,” Rushworth said.
“Key to this has been the opportunity for many affiliates to test themselves against the best the state has to offer from Open A, but then also provide an opportunity for those non “Open A” affiliates to play against similar abilities as well.
“We at NSWTA believe we will be able to provide an unique experience and an enjoyment factor for all abilities.”
The Mudcrabs’ women’s under 20s side also have an uphill battle for state supremacy.
They have been grouped in Pool B alongside last year’s runners-up Wallsend Wolves.
Mudgee won’t meet Wallsend until their fifth and final game on Saturday afternoon but the Mudcrabs take on Murwillumbah Mavericks, Northern Suburbs Bears, Bankstown Jets and Nelson Bay Neptunes beforehand.
The three-day State Cup tournament begins on Friday, December 7 and runs until Sunday, December 9.