Binalong Brahmans to play in Woodbridge Cup

Brahmans President Michael Brayshaw commented; “George Tooke Shield has been gradually losing its appeal as a second division league competition over the past several years and Binalong decided that we should return to the stronger Woodbridge Cup.”

By contrast, Woodbridge has long been an autonomous CRL competition between Groups 9, 10 and 11. Some Woodbridge Cup teams are as far away as Condobolin and Trundle. Late in 2014 the Brahmans elected to return to Woodbridge Cup by unanimous decision of the members.

For the George Tooke Shield in 2015, Boorowa will not field a team and neither will the Crookwell Green Devils, so Yass, Boomanulla, Harden and Bungendore remain in second division Group 8 (Canberra Raiders Cup). Whether the proposed University teams from third division can make the George Tooke Shield competition sustainable remains to be seen. 

Clubs need strong, long term backing from their local community and university life restricts the sustained and necessary support and cash flow to maintain viable clubs. 

With two University sides, this only makes a six-team competition. A decision is pending on the entry of a team from Gungahlin Bulls.

The Brahmans have lost several key players to Yass and these will be sorely missed. They added a lot of starch to Binalong’s strike power during 2013-14. 

The Brahman’s Club did not field a team during 2012, but has, incredibly not lost a competition game since September 2011. 

Under Coach Rawlinson, Binalong’s defence was its underlying strength; general thinking is that this strength remains largely intact; the professional structure of the coaching staff will ensure that the Brahmans remain more than competitive during 2015.

Asked if he thought Binalong could cope with the transition, President Brayshaw replied: “Yes, although we might not go undefeated, I am confident that Chris Rawlinson can coach our side to the semi-finals, that’s what we want and it’s what the people of Binalong want, nine home games at the Rec Ground. More important is to have our showcase of three grades of football most Saturdays at Binalong. For admission of just $6.00 our supporters will get a great afternoon of sport”.

The first Brahmans game will be against the Trundle Boomers on April 11 at Binalong commencing at 12.15pm, Michael Brayshaw added; “We have our first Woodbridge Cup game at home which will please our locals, and I think our team is good enough to match Trundle and get our season off to a winning start.

“We have Sam Longmore and Ben Spencer to coach our lower grades and this will be a new attraction for Binalong, something that locals have never experienced here before.”

But, the Brahmans are being frustrated in securing releases for a number of potential juniors from other clubs to complete a Youth League side for 2015.

Then the month of August will be the real test for Binalong with away matches against Canowindra, Grenfell and Condobolin which is bound to put extreme pressure on their match strength after a long winter. There will also be a home match against last year’s grand finalists Eugowra. Kick-off times will be 12.30pm for League Tag, 1.50pm for Youth League and First Grade  is on at 3pm. Woodbridge Cup senior games are the full 80 minutes and that extra 10 minutes will sorely test everyone’s fitness.

Asked his thoughts about the club’s transition from George Tooke Shield to Woodbridge Cup, coach Chris Rawlinson said: “I have no regrets about moving to Woodbridge, I personally wanted a new challenge and so did the players who stayed at Binalong. We all have to make the step up to an 80 minute game and that in itself is a big leap, but I’m very confident about our prospects."