After claiming the crown in the NSW Country Junior Rugby Union championships at Tamworth early May, Central West under 14s head coach Phil English is feeling confident heading into the NSWCJRU under 14s state championships.
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The side that has four Mudgee players on the books, Campbell Holgate, Jake Begg, Callum Wilson and Flynn English, took a 17-5 victory over rivals Central North in the country championships grand final.
"By winning the country championships you actually get a higher seeding at state," Phil, a former Mudgee Wombats coach and player, said.
"If you go well at country it makes the pathway into state so much easier. We'll actually be seeded in the top eight teams at state."
While progressing to state naturally means stiffer competition, English says for a country side, Central West are certainly not heading in under prepared.
"I would like to think we're pretty competitive with all of the Sydney sides, we always have been," he said.
"For a country side, that's never typically been the case. It's something they've struggled against but I think our guys will do well."
Alongside fellow former Wombat Angus Wilson, the coaching duo are likely to stick to a familiar game plan and focus on tightening up on some points of play.
I'd like to think that we'll progress into the finals and go well in the finals if we possibly get the chance.
- Central West under 14s head coach, Phil English
"Our game plan won't change a lot, it's just that we will hope to get more precise and a little bit more aggressive in our defensive patterns."
The NSWJRU under 14s state championships will be held at Orange from June 8 to 10.
Jay-Anna Sleeman
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
