This Saturday at Nixon Park in Temora, the Young Cherrypickers will have their second defence of the Ray White Challenge Cup from 2:35 pm.
The challenge cup rules, giving the team that doesn’t hold the cup an advantage, means Temora will have a +8.5 advantage. The Cherrypickers, however, are up for the test and are looking to hold the cup as long as possible.
The Young Cherrypickers retained the Challenge Cup against South City Bulls in round 1 on April 19.
President of the Cherrypickers, Andrew Smith, has told Young News what the Challenge Cup is and why it will play a big role in the game against Temora.
“South City had a four-and-a-half-point start, and we won by six points, so we just scraped that in,” he said.
“There’s a Challenge Cup board that depends on the two teams playing. Whoever is holding the Cup at that given time, the board will assess both teams, and they will give either side a handicap. They will decide the line bet, which could be anywhere from half a point to 30 and a half points start, to a team that could be at the bottom of the ladder playing the top team. You’re going to give them a start to give them a shot at having the Challenge Cup, and there’s $1,000 on the line. The New South Wales Rugby League provide $1,000 per Challenge Cup match, and if you win it, you get that $1,000.
“The board for the Challenge Cup gave South City a four-and-a-half-point start, and we won by six points. Realistically, by Challenge Cup standards, we won by one and a half points.
“We will take Temora similar to how we did South City, and we will continue with our fitness. Playing against Temora will be very similar to playing against South City, so not much will change. We’ve got our plan of action with what we do, so that’s what we’ll stick with.”
Next week, the Cherrypickers will be at home against the Junee Diesels, so Young are on the edge of their seats to see if Young can bring the Challenge Cup into Junee’s game as well.
Jack Murray
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