The Walcha Jillaroos will play a curtain raiser to both the main games when they take on Barraba in their Group 4 Second Division Ladies League Tag match at noon. 

Next up the Walcha Roos tackle Barraba, who are usually a big outfit that are hard to handle, and then the Walcha Rams are up against one of the zone’s most consistent sides Moree.

Although there are a number of new faces in the Roos ranks, the nucleus of the squad will be backing up from 2014.

There were plenty of encouraging reports to come from the West’s Leagues knock-out played at Gunnedah late last month, where the Roos had their first real hit out of the season.

They made the final of the consolation competition before going down to Boggabri 8-0 after conceding a couple of tries both within the last five minutes of the decider. 

New recruit Daniel Harrison showed plenty of promise as goal kicker, when he raised the flags with the majority of his attempts at goal.

He also performed will in general play as an outside back. Teenager Lee Harrison made his senior debut for the Roos with keen judges indicating his no-nonsense approach to the game will be a welcome addition to the team.

Fullback Bevan Wood is another new face for the Roos with his pace off the mark and his ability to read a game, something that will benefit the club.

Speedsters Jayden Knowelson and Steve Eveleigh have signed for Roos who will once again have the services of skipper Troy Yarnold, Jason Latham and Lachlan Brown to direct them around the Park.

The Roos will also rely on the Abraham brothers Max and Jock, forwards Mitch Eveleigh, Ben Moran, Chris Broadbent, Brett Beard, Lachlan Laurie, Robert Smith and Luke Brown along with centre Corey Jamieson and crowd favourite Dean Kelly.

Most of the 2014 Jillaroos squad that finished runners-up last year are back again this season and although they have lost five players, they have gained five replacements. 

New recruits Kimberley Lisle, Pauline Dupressoir, Kristy Lee Fogarty, Bonnie Brown and Alysha Laurie replace Laura Beard, Michelle Wayte, Appi Fontanella, Ali Kelly and Hannah Laurie.

Rams secretary Sam Martin predicts that although the club hasn’t got a log of tall timber throughout its ranks, the team should be competitive in 2015.

New faces in the squad include Sam Gemmell (number 7) and centre Andrew Taputoro, who will be joined by backrower Doug Lisle and centre Ed Cordingley who are making a return to the club.

The usual suspects will be there as well: Simon Newton, Ross Fletcher, Tom Rose and Sam Martin although Nat Brazel will miss out this year due to injury.

Coaches Andrew Crawford and Barry Hoy are once again in charge of a team that should be in reasonable nick after spending the past five weeks training under fitness guru ‘Rodger the commando’.

Go the Jillaroos, Roos and Rams!