John Fitzgerald

In an eleventh-hour decision, Bathurst’s CSU Rugby League Club has had to withdraw from this year’s Woodbridge Cup competition.

The decision comes as a result of low numbers and injury concerns to those players who would have had to play 80-minute games, with the club making the late decision to cut ties with Woodbridge for 2025, but hoping to form a team to compete in the late-season Mid West Community Cup.

This is a blow to Mid West’s chances of restarting a regular-season competition with only two former Mid West clubs able to attract enough players to form teams.

In this year’s first round of the Woodbridge premiership Oberon Tigers took to the road to meet former fellow first division club Cowra Magpies at Cowra.

Oberon, with a couple of good acquisitions this season, lost the game 14-8, but defended well against a quality attacking side.

The result could have been much closer after Oberon halfback Mat Ranse’s single-handed attempt to stop a second-half try in the corner where, in a degree of millimetres after Ranse’s smothering cover tackle, Jayden Williams found a centimetre of grass to ground the ball.

Will Melchers scored both of Oberon’s unconverted tries, and Williams two of Cowra’s three tries.

Orange United continued their good pre-season form with an impressive 32-8 win over Blayney Bears, and reigning premiers Manildra beat old rivals Trundle 48-22.

In the leaguetag match at Cowra, Oberon were defeated 16-10.