North West rugby union coach Jason Walker was hoping to get a head start on their NSW Combined High Schools' campaign by lining up in a trial against The Armidale School but the rain has dampened their preparations.
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Walker's under 18 team boasts players from six schools across the region which spans across an area from Coonabarabran, Walgett, Tenterfield and down to Tamworth.
The side was due to take on TAS this Friday in a trial but the venue, Doody Park, is far too wet to proceed with the fixture.
Walker was "gutted" to miss out on his side taking the field after he led a campaign for the two sides to come together in the years he has been involved in the North West side.
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"It is three years of work down the drain, pardon the pun," he said.
With the North West team coming from all corners of the region, there was no opportunity for a re-scheduled game.
"Friday was the only window for both sets of lads," Walker said.
"Hopefully it will go on the calendar for next year."
TAS Director of Co-curricular Huon Barrett agreed that the cancellation of the fixture was disappointing.
"Jason and I have been discussing it throughout this week and we hope to do something similar next year."
Walker's aim with the trial was to give his team the chance to gel together before they took on the state's best at the championships later in April.
"We go away to the state championships the first week after Anzac day and we just wanted to get a trial match in because it is impossible for us to train together because of the distance," Walker said.
"We generally take them to state championships without a game or without a training session and you can imagine it always takes a game or two to get going. By that time, you might be out of the main draw because you have lost your first game."
After the trial match was cancelled, Walker began to look for other ways to give his side as much preparation as possible.
"I have asked the lads to get to Coffs early on Tuesday 26th as I have scheduled an extra training session when we get to Coffs," he said.
"Armidale Blues stalwart [and former first grade co-coach], Mark Charter, who works in Coffs is coming to help the boys gel in the scrum.
"We also have Inverell Highlanders coach, Riki Winnetti coming to assist the team.
"His son is our number 8 so it's great to have the support of both New England and Central North clubs behind the schoolboys of the North West."
Moree Secondary College has two players, McIntyre High School has one, Inverell has four, Warialda two Narrabri two while Farrer makes up the rest of the squad of 20.
Although the variety of schools represented means a tougher preparation heading into the championships, Walker was still pleased to see players from all over putting their hands up to play.
"I am not knocking Farrer but four years ago it was pretty much a Farrer team," he said.
"But since I got the job, myself and the other teachers have been trying to take it to other areas.
"This year we had the trials away from Farrer [in Inverell] from the first time in living memory and we had 53 trial in the under 18s.
"Warialda have never had boys in the North West Rugby team."
Team:
1. Jeff Annis-Brown - Moree Secondary College
2. Henry Johns - Farrer MAHS
3. Lachlan Dietrich - Farrer MAHS
4. Western Mitchell - Warialda High School
5. Logan Mcilwain - McIntyre High School
6. Barnaby Mount - Farrer MAHS
7. Dusty Hagan -Farrer MAHS
8. Benjamin Tamati-Wineti - Inverell High School
9. Byron Lees - Farrer MAHS
10. Charlie Henderson - Farrer MAHS
11. Edward Montgomery - Moree Secondary College
12. Beudeen Reid - Inverell High School
13. Charlie Kennedy - Farrer MAHS
14. Austin Schneider - Inverell High School
15. Sidney Harvey - Narrabri High School
16. Cody Picker - Moree Secondary College
17. Harry Mamone - Farrer MAHS
18. Mitchell Wilson - Farrer MAHS
19. Bernard O'Connor - Narrabri High School
20. Will Apthorpe - Inverell High School
Coach: Jason Walker