Central Coast Trial 5 March 2011

Season Starter - Trial game versus Central Coast

The club had its first trial on Saturday and were hosted by the Central Coast Rep squad at Kincumber. Both our Colts and Grade squads, consisting of 25 players each, played three equal thirds against the local side.

Colts began the day with a hurried warm-up after a slow bus trip up the F3. The boys adapted quickly however and, in a fairly even contest, were able to blow away some of the cobwebs from not having played rugby for at least five months. We posted five tries but more importantly, got a fair idea about what we need to work on in the next three weeks leading into round one.

The Grade squad also began slowly and struggled defensively against a Coast side that had played Eastwood the week before and were very willing in attack and organised in their set piece. The locals scored after 10 minutes and that was the score after the first 25 minutes period. In the second, however, our lads used their heads and attacked the space in behind the ruck and tackled with much more aggression, posting 3 unanswered tries in the second 25 minute period. The locals were short on players in the 3rd term and the 'Wicks' took advantage scoring three more tries but also allowing an intercept try to Central Coast as we lost composure and started taking short cuts.

Some very good lessons came out of this trial which is becoming somewhat of a tradition. Some players certainly put their hands up to be counted which is pleasing.

Grade and Colts play Gordon next week at Latham Park in a full club trial.

Craig Morrison