THE Bega Roosters Rugby League Football Club is up for a big challenge on Sunday.
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The club will face the Narooma Devils at Bill Smyth Memorial Oval, Narooma.
Roosters president Garry Arkin said Bega struggles for points on the Devils’ home ground, describing it as a “graveyard for the Roosters”.
The first grade main event will be a hard slog said team manager Jeff Apps.
“It will be a tough win to get with Narooma relying on a mobile forward pack,” Apps said.
“Our boys will be up for a game that will go the full 80-minutes on Sunday.
“We go into the game without Hayden Parbery and our under 18s are playing at Moruya, so captain- coach Ryan Apps has had to rejig the side a bit,” he said.
Apps said the team was developing strong combinations, which could score them the points.
“Blake Robinson and Grant Jessop are combining well, while Scott Fuller is a super competitor and we are looking forward to a big game from him.
“Adam Blacka is getting stronger each game and Mitch Carter is hitting his straps, so we are looking to give the Devils a hot time up there.”
Apps said the Roosters are keen to stay on top of the ladder and want the points.
“The whole side are upbeat about snatching the two points on offer and consolidating our lead, it’s a matter of us doing what we do well.
“But if we give [the Devils] a sniff, then we could pay a price,” he said.
Meanwhile, the reserve grade squad was described as “inconsistent” and Dennis Scott and Steven Luff have been putting their heads together to make a game plan.
“We are falling down on all the basics and just need to move up off our line in defence and be a lot more patient with the ball in hand,” Scott said.
Scott said injuries had made a big impact on the side, but he said they still had potential.
“Despite our big loss to Eden, I am sure we have the makings of a side that can vastly improve and turn our fortunes around in the games ahead.”
Scott said getting the “little things” right would see the squad improve immensely.
“Narooma have the same win loss record as us, so it will be a close one and we will be all about shrugging off our indifferent form,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chicks are continuing to impress with excellent form.
The Chicks scored a 54-4 win over the Eden Tigerettes last week.
Coach Andrew Badullovich said a solid defence was a strong point of the Chicks.
“Working as one unit in defence is holding us in good stead,” Badullovich said.
“And the signs are encouraging, but we have a long way to go in this competition yet.”
The Roosters under 18s are on the road to Moruya for Sunday’s game against the Sharks.
Team manager Craig Britten said it “will be a tough test” for the Roosters, but the side has a lot of enthusiasm.
“Our boys will be up for it and are keen to keep our good start to the season going,” Britten said.
Britten said coaches James Scott and Grant Dowdle will be looking for a bigger effort from the defence.
And play will likely spread to the wingers for the attack.
The under 18s take the field at Ack Weyman Oval, Moruya, from 10.30am on Sunday.
Meanwhile, at Narooma league-tag kicks off at noon with the first grade to start at 2.30pm.