Aussie rules returned to town last weekend, with the Narrabri Eagles hosting the competition’s defending champions the New England Nomads at
Leitch Oval.
Despite the bitterly cold conditions, there was strong support, with many turning out to watch the team in action.
Co-captain Daniel Hughes said the team was excited to take to the field once again, saying the day was a
celebration of all the hard work that the club had put in during the off-season: “We were all excited to get out there and even though it wasn’t the desired result, the mood after the game was really good.”
Leitch Oval.
Despite the bitterly cold conditions, there was strong support, with many turning out to watch the team in action.
Co-captain Daniel Hughes said the team was excited to take to the field once again, saying the day was a
celebration of all the hard work that the club had put in during the off-season: “We were all excited to get out there and even though it wasn’t the desired result, the mood after the game was really good.”
The match itself was not the ideal start for the club, with the team suffering a huge 87-point loss to the two-time reigning champions.
The Eagles felt the pressure from the first bounce of the ball, with the Nomads having the advantage of a massive headwind in the first quarter, to leave the home side goal-less in the first quarter, taking a 31-1 lead.
Narrabri clawed their way back in the contest in the second quarter, getting their first few goals of the match to limp to a 51-26 score at half-time.
However with injuries mounting after the break, the visitors pulled away in the third quarter booting seven goals to take an unbeatable 100-29 lead into the final quarter.
The Nomads in the end took advantage of the fatigued home side to run in goals from all sides of the park, to finish 132-45 victors in the end.
Hughes acknowledged New England’s dominance in the forwards as the reason why they are the benchmark for the season ahead.
“We tried hard all day and statistically we won most of the contested footy around the ground,” Hughes said.
“They (Nomads) proved too strong with their fast and agile forwards getting round our bigger defenders.
“They are a very slick side and deserved to win.”
While Hughes remained upbeat with the side’s efforts, he was more disappointed with the team’s injury list as a result of the thumping from the Nomads.
Key players Trent Bruinsma and Rob Kemp will both be sidelined, with Bruinsma tearing his hamstring and Kemp playing the match with a broken wrist.
“It will be hard to replace those two guys, especially being part of a leadership group,” Hughes said.
“Trent is obviously a massive blow as he has so much experience and knowledge of the game.”
The leadership of the Eagles all agreed that the scoreline at the end of the match did not fairly reflect the performance of the team.
“Trent, Todd Dunn (coach) and myself all thought our endeavours with the ball were particularly good,” he said.
“I think we played really well despite that second-half phase where Armidale just got away from us. We actually won the second quarter by a few points, which is something to take out of the game,” Hughes said.
Eagles’ Joe Skuse was strong in the centre of the park and easily the standout on the day voted as the players’ player.
Dylan Segundo also had a strong game in the defence.
Hughes said the Eagles were working hard on improving on their communication for this weekend’s trip to Tamworth to take on the Roos.
“Our talk was down and we need to turn that around before Saturday,” Hughes said.
“The Roos are similar to the Nomads as they have a core group of players that have been together for four or five seasons.
“It makes a big difference when your teammates know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“In saying that we will go over still as the unknown factor of the competition.”
Elsewhere in the competition last weekend Inverell Saints opened their campaign with a gutsy 82-40 win over Tamworth Swans, with Gunnedah Bulldogs being humbled 111-44 by a young Tamworth Roos side.
This weekend’s second round matches see the Bulldogs host Inverell Saints at Worsley Oval.
A thumping is expected when the Nomads take on Tamworth Swans at home.
The Eagles felt the pressure from the first bounce of the ball, with the Nomads having the advantage of a massive headwind in the first quarter, to leave the home side goal-less in the first quarter, taking a 31-1 lead.
Narrabri clawed their way back in the contest in the second quarter, getting their first few goals of the match to limp to a 51-26 score at half-time.
However with injuries mounting after the break, the visitors pulled away in the third quarter booting seven goals to take an unbeatable 100-29 lead into the final quarter.
The Nomads in the end took advantage of the fatigued home side to run in goals from all sides of the park, to finish 132-45 victors in the end.
Hughes acknowledged New England’s dominance in the forwards as the reason why they are the benchmark for the season ahead.
“We tried hard all day and statistically we won most of the contested footy around the ground,” Hughes said.
“They (Nomads) proved too strong with their fast and agile forwards getting round our bigger defenders.
“They are a very slick side and deserved to win.”
While Hughes remained upbeat with the side’s efforts, he was more disappointed with the team’s injury list as a result of the thumping from the Nomads.
Key players Trent Bruinsma and Rob Kemp will both be sidelined, with Bruinsma tearing his hamstring and Kemp playing the match with a broken wrist.
“It will be hard to replace those two guys, especially being part of a leadership group,” Hughes said.
“Trent is obviously a massive blow as he has so much experience and knowledge of the game.”
The leadership of the Eagles all agreed that the scoreline at the end of the match did not fairly reflect the performance of the team.
“Trent, Todd Dunn (coach) and myself all thought our endeavours with the ball were particularly good,” he said.
“I think we played really well despite that second-half phase where Armidale just got away from us. We actually won the second quarter by a few points, which is something to take out of the game,” Hughes said.
Eagles’ Joe Skuse was strong in the centre of the park and easily the standout on the day voted as the players’ player.
Dylan Segundo also had a strong game in the defence.
Hughes said the Eagles were working hard on improving on their communication for this weekend’s trip to Tamworth to take on the Roos.
“Our talk was down and we need to turn that around before Saturday,” Hughes said.
“The Roos are similar to the Nomads as they have a core group of players that have been together for four or five seasons.
“It makes a big difference when your teammates know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“In saying that we will go over still as the unknown factor of the competition.”
Elsewhere in the competition last weekend Inverell Saints opened their campaign with a gutsy 82-40 win over Tamworth Swans, with Gunnedah Bulldogs being humbled 111-44 by a young Tamworth Roos side.
This weekend’s second round matches see the Bulldogs host Inverell Saints at Worsley Oval.
A thumping is expected when the Nomads take on Tamworth Swans at home.