Mudgee will be sending three teams to NSW Touch State Cup this weekend in Port Macquarie.
The Mudcrabs will have representation in the Women’s 30s, Men’s 40s and Mixed Open divisions.
This is the first time in two years that the State Cup will be held after the 2021 event was washed out – twice.
It will also be the first time since 2019 that spectators will be allowed back at the tournament.
It has been months of hard training and lead-up tournaments for Mudgee’s three representative teams.
The Women’s 30s are the club’s best chance of bringing home some silverware following their win at the Hornets Championships in September and a runners-up medallion at the Country Championships a month later.
Although standing in their way are two heavyweights and a third whom Mudgee knows all too well.
Maitland have been Mudgee’s biggest rival in this division for the past two years with each team claiming a grand final win over the other in 2022.
Not to mention their drop-off final at the 2021 Country Championships in which the Redbacks won.
Mudgee commence their tournament against the two heavyweights Manly and Cronulla. Their final game on Friday is against Coffs Harbour.
On Sunday, Mudgee meet Maitland and Peninsula.
The men’s 40s team has been preparing for this occasion for close to two years.
They played in the two lead-up tournaments – Hornets and Country Championships – and although they did not come away with a win, they have gained valuable match experience.
Mudgee Men’s 40s will meet Wallsend, Cronulla and Wollongong on Friday before playing country champions Wagga Wagga and Balmain on Saturday.
The mixed open team is a young side led by the evergreen Andrew Laurie.
No strangers to success at the State Cup, Mudgee will have to play 10 games if they want to repeat their B-grade 2015 championship win.
Mudgee finished quarter finalists at the Country Championships.
Most of the teams Mudgee are playing State Cup are unfamiliar to the Mudcrabs.
On Friday, Mudgee opens their account against Forster followed by Ryde-Eastwood, Wollongong and Peninsula.
On Saturday they play Carlingford, Young and Tamworth.
Referees attending the tournament are Ben Harris, Justin Brydon, Haydn Fisher and Zane Wisbey.
Finals will be held on Sunday.
