Yass add to list of O'Farrell Cup challenges

Yass will offer their first challenge since 2003.

They have been locked in to have the seventh O'Farrell Cup challenge on February 11.

It will only be the the association’s fourth challenge in the long history of the competition and they will be hunting for their first win.

Yass first challenged Wagga in 1931 but the match was washed out.

They lost to Wagga Wagga the following year and did not challenge again for over 70 years before losing to Cootamundra in 2003.

It follows from last year when Young had their first challenge since a 17-year-old Nathan Lyon took 2-24 against Leeton in 2005.

Young are among the nine challengers this season, the largest number the competition has in over a decade.

Holders Temora start their defence against Ardlethan on December 10.

Temora captain Luke Gerhard believes it is good to see so many associations wanting to put their hands up.

“It is a massive thing around here, the O’Farrell Cup, and Yass have a good team so I think it is good for the Cup,” Gerhard said.

However the early start date posses a challenge for the team who won defended the cup four times last season.

It clashes with the Wagga Sloggers playing in the Regional Bash finals at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Nick Grant, Kurt Robertson, Max Harper and Jack Harper are all part of the Sloggers team.

Besides that Gerhard expects to have the same team that dominated last season.

“We definitely want to hang onto it for as long as we can,” Gerhard said.

“We had a good year last year and it would be a shame to see us lose it early on.”

Just like last season, Wagga has decided against having the first or last challenge of the season.

Instead they will challenge on February 18 with Holbrook having the last challenge the following week.

December 10 – Temora v Ardlethan

December 17 – Cootamundra

January 7 – Griffith

January 14 - Young

January 21 – West Wyalong

February 4 – Leeton

February 11 – Yass

February 18 –  Wagga

February 25 – Holbrook