The Macleay Valley Mustangs will be without two of their young stars for their first game at home against the Old Bar Pirates this Saturday, but two experienced players come into the side.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jake Smith and Steven Walker missed the opening round of the season but will replace Stephan Blair and Mitchell Dixon who will be playing for the Group Three representative side on Saturday.
Smith will fill in for Blair at centre while Walker takes Dixon’s place in the front row.
Smith returns from an illness that kept him out of the sides round two victory over the Taree City Bulls.
He spent the majority of the season at centre last year.
Walker is a first grade regular and is one of the more experienced forwards within the club.
“We don’t lose much, with Jake and Steven coming into the side,” first grade coach Dennis Ritchie said.
Ritchie was pleased with his sides opening performance of the season but said their fitness let them down.
“I was really happy with the first 10 minutes of the match, I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” he said.
“We started to get tired and you could tell we didn’t have a pre-season match under our belts.
“We will only get better as we play more matches.”
The Mustangs led the entire match on the way to their 30-20 victory and Ritchie credited the halves pairing of Anthony Cowan and Mal Webster.
“They have been playing together for nine years and came back to the club after winning a premiership together at grafton,” Ritchie said.
“The experience, composure and direction they provide around the field will be instrumental in us being competitive this season.”
The Old Bar Pirates took an 18-16 lead into halftime against the Port Macquarie Sharks last week, but they failed to hold on, losing 29-22.
Ritchie is expecting a tough outing against the Pirates.
“They are always a strong side and they showed last week they will be hard to beat,” he said.
The Old Bar Pirates have forfeited Saturday’s U18 1/2 match.
First grade kicks off at 3.15pm at Verge St Oval.