THE Nambucca Roosters Reserve Grade team were able to knock some pre-season cobwebs from their form last Saturday when they met Lower Macleay at Coronation Park, Nambucca Heads.
The game was played over four 15 minute quarters in hot and humid conditions with very little breeze, testing the match fitness of everyone on the paddock.
Co-Coach of the Roosters Reserve Grade team, Dean Buchanan told News Of The Area, “Our objective for this trial match is to look at our structure, get a gauge of where we are at with match fitness and have a look at our new signings to better understand what positions they are suited to.”
The first quarter played out as a scoreless term with both sides botching opportunities to get points on the board due to handling errors and penalties.
With only 30 seconds gone in the second quarter the visitors were able to cross the line, unconverted, to be answered five minutes later by the Roosters’ Dom Robertson, converted by Jake Saunders.
Despite the early action, the Roosters took the 6-4 lead through to half time.
The opening stages of the third quarter was punctuated by drop balls and strips from both sides until Lower Macleay found space on their right edge and took back the lead 8-6.
The visitors scored again at the end of an inspired passage of play that saw them spin the ball from right edge to left edge at speed, the score 12-6 at three quarter time.
With the heat taking a toll on both teams and Lower Macleay suffering from a dwindling bench, a converted try under the posts in the first two minutes of the final quarter sealed the deal for the visitors.
With no one left on the visitors bench and player safety becoming a concern, the game was called five minutes early, the Roosters going down to a Lower Macleay outfit that featured some very experienced players, the final score 18-6.
Next week the Nambucca Roosters will host the Port Macquarie Sharks for trial matches for the Under 18s, Women’s Tackle and the Senior Men’s.
The action kicks off at 1:00pm on Saturday 29 March at Coronation Park, Nambucca Heads.
By Mick BIRTLES
