Round 1 of the Central Coast Rugby Union (CCRU) season kicks off on Saturday, April 15, with four Swietelsky Premier 1 matches.
The Match of the Day will be the clash at Walters Park, Boolaroo when home team Lake Macquarie takes on visitors Warnervale.
There will be many eyes on this contest.
Lake Macquarie has come into the CCRU competition as a new team but with a long history in the Newcastle competition.
Warnervale will be very wary and this clash should go right down to the wire.
Warnervale will be headed this year again by Club Coach Glen Gallagher while Lake Macquarie will be coached by Neil McDonald.
There are many unknowns about all matches early in the season because of player movement, player acquisitions and many other factors, but this match is even more difficult to predict with one team totally new to the competition.
It should be an enthralling game of rugby and create huge interest on the day.
Slade Park will host an equally interesting clash on Saturday between The Lakes and Avoca Beach.
The Lakes are at home which is a plus for them but they meet an Avoca Beach side which has had a good build up to the season.
Both teams have new coaches this year.
Avoca Beach will coached by Jake McPhie and Mitch Jacobs, while The Lakes will be headed by Don Lawson.
So there is a new learning curve for both teams, for both the players and the coaches
Once again it is very difficult to choose a winner in this clash because of so many unknown factors.
Gosford and Hornsby meet at Mark Taylor Oval in what should prove an exciting clash.
Gosford had a tough year in 2022 but has had a good lead up to the competition this year.
The team has strengthened its numbers and will be coached by Andrew Moseley and Adam Carlisle, whose experience will prove hugely beneficial to this young team.
Hornsby is at home which is a real plus, but this clash could go either way.
Hornsby will be coached by Tristan Jones this year.
Jones has been around with the club for a very long time and will have the team well prepared.
The Razorbacks travel to Woy Woy Oval to play Woy Woy.
The Razorbacks will go into this match as firm favourites based on performances from last year but anything could happen in this match.
The Razorbacks will be coached by Brett Cunningham.
Woy Woy is at home and is always stronger there.
Coach Wais Qalula will have his charges fully prepared.
Terrigal has the bye this week.
The Bay Rugby Club will only be playing in the President’s Cup once again this year.
On Saturday they will play Warnervale at Boolaroo in their first match.
Saturday also sees the continuance of the Central Coast Women’s 10’s competition.
This year the clubs continue with 10-a-side rugby and there will be seven teams.
It will take several weeks before these teams sort themselves out but it all makes for some interesting rugby in the early rounds of this year’s competition.
There are three matches this coming Saturday – Woy Woy is at home to the Razorbacks, Warnervale will host Terrigal, while The Lakes meet Avoca Beach at Slade Park.
Hornsby has the bye.
Larry Thomson