There is only one way at looking at Mudgee Wombats’ loss to Orange City Lions on Saturday – a hammering.
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The 118-5 loss will go down as one of the worst in the Wombats’ history and possibly in the Blowes Clothing Cup.
It was hard for the spectators to watch and no doubt the players – albeit giving their all – were a bit embarrassed with the end result.
Not helping Mudgee’s cause was the fact all but five players had already played in an earlier game because numbers were thin.
It brought out a response from Wombats first grade prop Dave Birch on the club’s Facebook page who questioned the commitment of the players who “didn’t bother turning up and didn’t want to drive two hours” to Orange.
It’s no secret the Wombats have struggled for numbers this season, especially for their away games.
But this is not new.
When Mudgee moved from the David Lang Shield in 2002 to the Blowes Clothing Cup where they played five seasons in the top grade between 2003 and 2007, the Wombats struggled for numbers.
It came to the point in 2007, the then-president Brett Swords called for an urgent meeting because player numbers were so low that the future of Mudgee Rugby was at a crossroads.
At no point has anyone at Mudgee Rugby Club said the Blowes competition was going to be easy.
They knew that these type of results like the one on Saturday could happen during their returned year.
But, personally, I would rather watch the Wombats get belted by a cricket score as oppose to them winning by one liked they used to in the President’s Cup/Australian National Field Days competition if it meant they were playing in the top tier of Central West rugby.
Although first grade have struggled this season and second grade are playing OK at times, all you have to do is look at the colts and the junior Wombats teams.
They are the future of the club and the future looks promising.
The colts are third, the under 17s are on top, and Mudgee Blue in under 15s and under 13s are in the top five.
It was an eye on the future that Mudgee Rugby Club decided to move back to the Blowes Cup.
As Wombats’ boss Greg Bartrim said last week in The Weekly: “The longevity of the club is the most important thing.”
For the knockers to say the Wombats don’t belong in the same competition as your Orange Citys or Dubbo Kangaroos, let me say this. Would you rather the Wombats win premiership after premiership and in the process slowly kill any hope of growing the game? Or would you rather see the Wombats take on the best in the Central West, knowing that they may struggle but give their juniors something to aspire to?
I know what camp I’m in.
It’s great there is a team from country NSW in the inaugural National Rugby Championship and it’s fantastic bush fans of the game will get a chance to see some of the best talent in Australia playing.
But I do have the question NSW Country Eagles decision to play one of their home matches at Wade Park in Orange.
I’m not sure what Oakes Oval in Lismore is like and Dubbo’s Apex Oval is a tip-top facility, but Wade Park over Glen Willow Stadium? Whaaaaattttt?
Sure Orange is a sports-mad town but so is Mudgee and the Mid-West region.
I know Glen Willow can’t host all the big matches but when a state-of-the-art facility that has been deemed the best in country NSW gets overlooked for a run down version, I call foul.
I’ve watched many matches at Wade Park even a few top of the line like the A-League in 2006 and the NRL trial in 2008, but Orange’s “premier ground” has nothing on Glen Willow.
It’s chalk and cheese.
You are so far away from the action because of its oval-shape you’ll need binoculars. You can get close to the action when you’re at Glen Willow.
Hopefully the Eagles realise they’ve missed a perfect opportunity to showcase the game at a superb venue that Mudgee gets the nod next year.
Mudgee hockey’s tour of Samoa is gaining momentum with the locals getting excited about the fortnight tour in late September.
The association is the first international club to commit to a hockey tour of Samoa.
Sponsorship is still sorted for the trip and Mudgee hockey would appreciate any donations whether it be financial or equipment.
For more information, visit the Mudgee District Hockey Association’s Facebook page or contact Jo Ioane on 0427 722 825