Incumbent Cowra Eagles first grade coach Troy Hayes says the new look Blowes Clothing Cup (BCC) draw favours Cowra nicely, following its release on Wednesday afternoon.
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Eagles face a tough season opener against Orange City at Pride Park, but Hayes says it’ll be a good test for his side who usually takes on Narromine in round one.
Without a bye this season – thanks to Narromine not forming a BCC side – Cowra plays home and away games in succession throughout the 18 round competition, with general byes landing on April 29 and June 10 for the NSW Country Rugby Union Championships and Queen’s Birthday long weekend respectively.
Cowra will do their travelling early, twice to Orange and Dubbo in round one, clashing with City, Emus, Roos and Rhinos, something Hayes sees as a positive.
“I think the draw looks really good. Without Narromine now it’s 18 rounds of full on football for three months” Hayes said.
“We get the two Orange trips and Dubbo trips out of the way in the first round, Mudgee’s the only real one in round two that we have to travel distance.”
Round one at Pride Park looms as a cracking battle, with Cowra and City’s history of producing entertaining 80 minute games in the past couple of years.
The game offers Cowra an opportunity to send an early warning to its opponents, and spring to the top half of the table ahead of their round two match against Parkes.
“It’ll be interesting first up playing at Orange,” Hayes said. “It’s always good to know where you’re at and that’ll give us an early indication.”
This is Hayes’ second year in charge of the Eagles’ premier side. He hopes to see improvement this year, after missing the finals last season by seven points.
“I think the first year was about finding my feet. Now in my second year I want to see the team really move forward in the competition,” he said.
“There’s definitely some unfinished business there after missing the finals, it should be a really good season.”
Hayes says he’s preparing a compact preseason for his squad with the players set to begin training during early February.
Round one will unfold on April 1.
The Eagles first home is against Parkes on April 8.
Hayes expects the competition to be closer and more competitive than ever in 2017, labeling every round as important.
“The last couple of seasons you might have one or two clubs that are struggling and you get an easy game but I don’t think we’ll get that this year,” Hayes said.
