Our best play for Border Cup

The pre-season games will be between Central North Zone seniors and under 20s against teams from Queensland’s Darling Downs Zone, which roughly takes in the area from Toowoomba to Roma to Goondiwindi.

President of the Inverell Highlanders Pete Davidson said five Inverell players will be in the under 20s representative team and one in the A grade side.

“Tom Apthorpe, Dylan Lewis, Joel Sims, Joe Ferris and Joe Press for the under 20s and Chad Makim in the seniors will all be playing for Central North,” Davidson said.

“It’s fantastic to have strong Highlander representation in the zone under 20s. The Border Cup is the first trial match in the representative program, and culminates in the Country Championships at Bowral on May 2.

“The experience gained from being involved in this squad and competing at the highest regional level will be invaluable for these young boys, who will all be ‘knocking on the first grade door’ later this season.”

Gary Walsh from NSW Rugby Union said there had been a camp at Lake Keepit.

“There is some good talent in the side this year. We won our division last year, which put us in the top tier for this year, so the competition is going to be a lot stiffer,” Walsh said.

“But we’ve got a couple of big units, which is nice for a change, normally we’re all little players. We’ve got a couple of boys that have gone to uni who have come back and played for us. Hunter Barnett, he’ll be playing and young Green from the Pirates is a good player. 

“Tommy Apthorpe, who played in the 20s Inverell program last year and played some first grade, he’s just developed and come along. He could be anything, this kid, I just wish he’d get a haircut, but anyway.” Walsh said the Inverell Rugby club had been great supporters of the program.