In a repeat of last year’s football grand final, the Bega Devils and Wolumla Tigers were inseparable.
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The two powerhouse clubs couldn’t shut the other out and finished off a great first round with a 1-1 result in Bega on Sunday.
“It was a very good opening round,” Bega coach Jordan Stafford said.
“It was definitely good to see that close competition with our nearest rival.”
Stafford said he couldn’t single out any particular players from the Wolumla side that were a threat on the weekend, but instead said the entire opposition played a solid opening game.
From his own roster, the coach commended the “regulars” like Phil Chapman out of the back line, and front line attacker Ross Jones, while also heaping praise on the newcomers to the red jersey.
“The new guys coming into the side were really impressive too,” he said.
Stafford said he was particularly pleased to contain the Tigers to the 1-1 result as a large number of his team had backed up from reserve grade.
“A lot of our guys had backed up and there were some tired bodies out there,” Stafford said.
The reserves had also been a super close contest with the Tigers pulling out a narrow victory over the Devils in Sunday’s local derby.
Meanwhile, Wolumla women’s captain coach Kirsty McPaul said her Tigresses had an excellent round one outing.
The Tigresses carded a 13-0 win over the returning Bega She Devils, but the captain said signs were bright for the Devils to make a good return.
“There is plenty of promise in the new Bega women’s line up,” McPaul said.
“We just played like a very experienced team that has been together for a long time.”
Despite the strong scoreline, McPaul said the Bega girls showed some excellent speed and would have plenty of room for growth as the season develops.
The Wolumla Ladies will now look to one of the biggest early challenges of the year when they take on the Eden Killer Whales this weekend.
McPaul said the group were pursuing an elusive premiership and would look to make their presence felt from the outset.
The She Devils will clash with the Penguinettes in round two at Pambula’s ‘Penguin Park’ this Sunday with the match to go ahead at 2pm..
The reserve grade Devils also face Pambula, while the Tigers take on the Eden reserves in Eden.
In round two the Bega Devils men will head to Pambula to face the Penguins, while the Tigers first grade have a bye with a two-week holiday break to follow.