Massive eight-game opening night set to kick off 53rd annual West Wyalong Knockout

Tallon Smith

A blockbuster eight-game opening night will kick off the 53rd edition of the West Wyalong Knockout on Friday week after the release of the tournament draw this evening.

All 16 draw places have been filled for this year’s event, to be held over two days on the 27th and 28th of February, with 11 of the 13 clubs that participated in last year’s knockout returning to compete again this year, in addition to new entrants Campbelltown City, Dubbo CYMS, Mudgee, Temora and Wagga Kangaroos.

The night will open with West Wyalong’s local rivals TLU taking on Temora at 6:30pm in a must-see clash that will pit stars Jaden Kelly and Hamish Starr against one another in a sudden-death showdown.

Next up, Peter McDonald Premiership runners-up Forbes will take on Billy Dickinson’s Leeton Greenies at 7:10pm, before the Young Cherrypickers will get the opportunity to parade their new halves pairing of Kane Ball and Brent Hawkins when they tackle Parkes at 7:50pm.

Hamish Starr and the Temora Dragons will open the West Wyalong Knockout against the TLU Sharks (*Photo: Tahlia Crane* *Photography*)

All eyes will be on the 8:30pm game which looms as a potential Orange CYMS debut for Blake Ferguson when they face a highly-fancied Yanco-Wamoon outfit.

Following that, the home side West Wyalong will take centre stage in their first hit out under new captain-coach Luke Clarke at 9:10pm, when they square off with Group 16 side Cooma Stallions.

The action continues with another blockbuster clash at 9:50pm, when reigning PMP premiers Dubbo CYMS play last year’s Group 9 runners-up Wagga Kangaroos.

Defending champions South City Bulls will have to wait until the penultimate game of the night at 10:30pm to begin their quest for back-to-back titles, when they face Macarthur side Campbelltown City Kangaroos.