Joe Prosper, Mitch Cassells and Matt Batt.
They may not have won on the scoreboard last Friday night but there was a lot to like about the Boorowa Rovers first hit out against the Moruya Sharks at Moruya. The Sharks retained the Ack Weyman Shield with a 22-6 victory in a tough physical encounter.
Rovers coaches Alex Stewart and Cooper Cross both emphasised the match was one of the most physical games they have ever played in, being the perfect preparation for a challenging season ahead.
The Rovers were below full strength going into the game with key players Josh Dean and Hamish Scott missing from the line up. They were dealt a further blow losing play maker Nick Stephens just ten minutes into the game. With the bulk of their spine missing, the youthful Rovers were forced to re-shuffle their side and experiment with some new combinations. The most pleasing aspect of the match was the way the players adapted to these different combinations. There is a great deal of versatility in the team.
Moruya scored the first three tries of the match to skip out to a 16-0 lead. However, Boorowa showed plenty of resiliance in restricting the Sharks to the final score of 22-6. It was an ideal gauge to see just where Boorowa is at, with the Sharks being one of Group 16’s better sides.
The forward pack for Boorowa really impressed and based on last week’s performance, the Rovers will match any pack in the George Tooke Shield.
Matt Batt and Ned Evans led the way up front with some bruising contact. It was a baptism of fire for young gun Joe Prosper who was outstanding in his first game of senior league which left him chomping at the bit for more action. Matt Canellis was solid and destructive whilst Cooper Cross led the team well in both attack and defence.
The backs did well, considering the number of different combinations they needed to manage a reshuffle. Once their spine is settled, the points will flow. Will Fahey as always, was outstanding at the back and will play a key role in the Rovers attack this year.
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