The Oakdale Workers withdrawing from first grade marked the halfway point of the 2018 Group Six premiership.
It meant the Campbelltown City Kangaroos, who were scheduled to host the Workers at Fuller Reserve yesterday picked up two points without having to make a single tackle.
In a statement issued on June 14, Oakdale Workers said:
“The board wishes to inform all stakeholders and supporters of the OWRLFC that we will be withdrawing from the Group 6 first grade competition effective immediately.
“At this time the club can no longer continue scraping together a side on a week to week basis and feel it is not a viable option to continue in this manner.
“The football club will be holding an Extraordinary General Meeting at The Oakdale Workers Club on Thursday, July 5 to discuss this matter and the future of any prospective first grade teams.’’
There was some action on the football field, with three games played during round nine, reports MIKE SHEAN, of Macarthur Sports Radio:
The Mittagong Lions have returned to form with a comprehensive win over the Narellan Jets on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions snagged a spot in the top five at the halfway mark of the season, following their 58-10 romp.
Mittagong will now be looking to next week’s local derby with Moss Vale as an opportunity to cement their position heading into the second half of the season.
Narellan will need to regroup quickly ahead of next Sunday’s local derby with Camden at Harvey Shephard Field. After a strong start to the season, the Jets are in danger of missing out on the finals.
The Jets will look to the likes of the Graham brothers, Jermaine Haule, and their halves, led by Adam Hoffman and Jacob McKinnon, to revive their faltering season.
Thirlmere Roosters were also impressive on Sunday afternoon at home, defeating Moss Vale 50-24.
The Roosters have had their own issues in recent weeks, but some solid wins, compounded by the victory on Sunday at Thirlmere Sportsground has them on top of the table at the halfway mark.
Their next appointment is a top of the table clash on Sunday afternoon with Picton Magpies, who are running second.
Moss Vale have surprised many so far in 2018, especially after their well-documented off-field issues before the start of the season.
Despite having only two wins for the season, they have pushed many of the top teams, and will be looking for more wins against teams they know they can match, starting with Mittagong away next weekend in the local derby.
The final match of Round 9 saw The Oaks record a solid win 26-4 over their local neighbours in Camden at Dudley Chesham Oval.
The Tigers, on the back of their fifth win of the season, sit fourth on the ladder.
Camden will be looking to start winning matches in the second half of the season.
The Rams currently sit in sixth spot on the ladder, just one point outside the top five.
They host Narellan next weekend in the local derby, and will be looking to finally spark their season.
The Rams have the personnel to make a solid run to the finals but will need to be more consistent than they have been so far.
RESULTS – ROUND 9 – FIRST GRADE
The Oaks Tigers 26 Camden Rams 4;
Mittagong Lions 58 Narellan Jets 10;
Thirlmere Roosters 50 Moss Vale Dragons 24.
Ladder: Thirlmere 16; Picton 14; Mittagong, The Oaks 12; Camden 11; Narellan 10; Moss Vale 7; Campbelltown City 6.
RESERVE GRADE
The Oaks 22 Camden 12;
Campbelltown City 64 Oakdale 30;
Mittagong 40 Narellan 10;
Thirlmere 8 Appin 52;
Picton 30 Oran Park 16.
UNDER 18
Campbelltown City 22 Mt Annan Oakdale 20;
Mittagong 26 Narellan 38;
Thirlmere 26 Moss Vale 20;
Picton 34 Warragamba 4.
LEAGUE TAG
The Oaks 0 Camden 42;
City Blue 54 Oakdale 0;
City Gold 4 Oran Park 36;
Mittagong 4 Narellan 56;
Thirlmere 50 Moss Vale 0.
SECOND DIVISION
Campbelltown City 24 Oran Park 4;
Bowral 42 Narellan 12;
Thirlmere 22 Bundanoon 32;
Picton 16 Warragamba 20.
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 10 FIRST GRADE
Camden v Narellan;
Mittagong v Moss Vale;
Picton v Thirlmere (all Sunday 2.30pm)
It is a shame that the NRL does not spend some of the fortune they boast about promoting Country RL. I live at Port Stephens and the Shire has some 80,000 residents but does not have a first grade RL team. The two clubs. Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay have folded even though they had been around for 100 years. The powers that be want to turn us all into TV footie fans but are not worried by the massive obesity problem that is killing young people and with homes now having no backyards playing a organised sport is going to be the only way kids are going to beat this obesity problem.