The Coota Tri-colours have kicked off their preseason trial games with a gala day held at Bassingthwaighte Park where they won a game and drew a game against some handy rivals.
Coota were impacted by the loss of a number of players who had to work on Saturday at last minute after a shut down at the local abattoirs earlier in the week.
The Tricolours still managed to have a squad of 17 which included two younger players sitting on the bench for them.
Coota Halfback Jack Hogan told the Times, “It was a pitch perfect day and we rocked up and there was four teams and over 100 plus players easily. All the games were played in good spirit and a few beers were enjoyed after at the clubhouse and then back to the Albion. All in all it was a very successful day.”
“We had University of Wollongong and I think we scored four tries to their one. Our next game was against Redfield Oldboys, a side out of the northern suburbs of Sydney and it was a draw. Redfield is a Grammar school. The side was based on 19-20 year olds who were very fit.”
“Our fitness is there and our defence showed that well and truly and a few returning back from that grand final side a couple of years ago showed why we won a grand final. They certainly haven’t lost touch and it was good, really good to see.”
“The abattoirs usually don’t work on a Saturday so hopefully it’s a one-off. The week before the trial we had 35-plus at training and it’s looking really positive.”
“I suppose it was going to be easy if the abattoirs didn’t work on the weekends. Phil would be able to play a lot of these boys. I think he’ll just have a couple of club games at training to test a few of them out.”
“Our first game is Harden at Coota at Bassingthwaighte Park on 12th April.”
The Coota and Harden clubs will not be entering ladies sides in this year’s competition.
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