Awesome April: Macleay Valley's sporting talents returning this month

Cut-out balls.

Full stretched diving saves and much more.

It's all coming back as sporting familiarity returns to the Macleay Valley after 2020 was full of interruptions and restrictions.

Rugby league was a casualty with Group 3 first and reserve grade failing to go ahead along with the Hastings League.

Upper Mid North Coast Rugby Union had no competition either.

April will see the fun begin with two codes starting this weekend.

South West Rocks Marlins are back to defend their title after the 2019 success.

The side has a new head coaching duo with Alfie Drew and Malcolm Webster at the helm.

Their premiership defence will begin this weekend at home against Comboyne Tigers.

Meanwhile, the Lower Macleay Magpies will face the newly reformed Lake Cathie Raiders away from home.

Lower Macleay will have Mike Davis in charge of their men's team.

Hastings League ladies competition is looking unlikely with only three teams nominated with a meeting scheduled for later this week to decide what direction the competition will take.

Saints and Rangers will be back on the field this weekend to compete in the first round of the CPL.

Kempsey play Northern Storm at Korora Oval on Saturday, that match was originally scheduled at Eden Street but rainfall means the ground is currently unavailable.

Macleay Valley travel to Toormina Oval to verse the Sawtell Scorpions.

After winning only two games last season, the Saints showed massive improvement in Round 3 of the FFA Cup, defeating Rangers 3-1.

Due to flooding and ground availability, the Women's Northern League and other FMNC community football competitions will start on May 8.

Kempsey will play host to the Group 3 All Stars vs Group 3 Indigenous All Stars match on April 24 with men's and women's games along with Kempsey Dragons juniors vs Smithtown Tigers juniors.

The Group 3 competition has been pushed back to May 1 & 2 after an April 10 start was originally planned.

Group 2 junior rugby league featuring the Dragons and Tigers will start on May 1.

Anthony Cowan and Steve 'Rock' Walker will lead the Macleay Valley Mustangs first grade side this year in their title defence.

The Cannonballs are back after a year off and as per program should start their season at home against Southern Cross University Marlins.

Their home ground at Crescent Head suffered significant flooding however MNCRU Executive Officer Bruce Worboys confirmed an April 24 start is still the plan.

"We may have to be flexible with ground availability," he added.

South West Rocks Dockers will kick off on April 18, with the 11s playing Port Macquarie Swoopers and 13s up against Port Macquarie Bombers.

Both games will be played at South West Rocks Sporting Ground.

It's all systems go this year for netball in the region with the MNA starting on April 17.

The first Kempsey race meet will occur on Anzac Day, April 25.

It'll be a busy two weeks for the race track with another event scheduled for the following weekend.

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