Well, Group 11 is back in a big way.
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The 314 points scored in the four first grade matches shows the blistering attacking footy we’ve become accustomed to shows no sign of slowing.
But when does excessive point scoring become a worry?
On Sunday afternoon it was definitely a worry. CYMS destroyed an underdone-looking Westside 102-0 and there was still 13 minutes remaining when the game was called off. Who knows what the score would have been if it had gone the 80?
There is no doubt it’s a concern for Group 11. In the first game of the season sides should be at their most keen and energetic but Westside, who did cruel themselves with countless errors and ill-discipline, were just no match for the Fishies, who didn’t take much from the match but were still electric in attack.
Elsewhere, congratulations must go to Dubbo Macquarie for defeating Nyngan on Saturday evening.
It was a tough day for the club as it played for its first competitive match since the passing of favourite son and hard-as-nails back-rower Perry Meredith.
It was fitting the Raiders produced a physical, gritty and gruelling performance to beat Nyngan with the effort exactly like the one Meredith used to put in each week.
To see the Meredith family there embracing fellow club members and players running out on to the field with tears in their eyes after retiring the number 13 jersey showed just how much this loss continues to rock the club.
In terms of the performance, both the Raiders and Stewart Mills’ Tigers will no doubt improve as the Group 11 season goes on and while CYMS stole the headlines in round one these two sides will no doubt have premiership dreams in 2017.
In other matches, the Forbes Magpies began their premiership defence in style as they produced a dominant seocnd half performance to defeat Wellington.
The Cowboys started well and showed some early promise under new captain-coach Aidan Ryan and only trailed by 10 points at half time but Joseph Coe’s hat-trick helped the Maggies triumph.
Parkes also flexed its muscle in round one, dispatching the Narromine Jets 56-32, with winger Brandon Paige also notching a treble.
Elsewhere in the sporting world, the Dubbo Demons lived up to the pre-season excitement by destroying the Cowra Blues in the first round of the Central West AFL competition.
The defending premiers seem to be battling majorly for numbers this season but nevertheless it was an impressive showing from Will Bunt’s Dubbo side and one no doubt which caught the eye of rivals in Bathurst and Orange.
Keep your eyes on the Daily Liberal website later today for the full report on that match.
Also, congratulations to all those involved in Central West’s NSW Country Rugby Union Championships campaign.
The women’s sevens side was brilliant, finishing as undefeated champions and claimed the inaugural country title in a stellar showing.
And finally, Dubbo racegoers got to witness one of the best in the business do his thing on Friday night when Falcon’s Fury won the $11,000 Gold Cup. The Paul and Pamela Braddon-trained star made it 18 wins from 27 starts by mowing down his rivals to take out the biggest race on the local sporting calendar.