Dark days near end

Crabs look to brighter future with revamp

THE Northern Beaches Mudcrabs’ dim start to the season is set to end, with the club’s home ground at Yorkeys Knob to finally have lights installed this week.

The 2015 premiers have been shells of their former selves this season, forced to train in the dark through the opening month of the season as the finishing touches on the club’s Wattle St facilities neared completion.

Co-captain Russell Todd said the lights could not come soon enough as the winless Crabs prepared for their crucial clash with Port Douglas Reef Raiders at Smithfield today at 5pm.

“The lights will be a massive boost for us,” Todd said.

“At times we’ve only been able to get in 45 minutes to an hour of training and that’s definitely hurt us.

“Sometimes we’ve gone down to the beach and done line-out work when it gets too dark but it isn’t necessarily the same.

“We’ve got up to seven guys who are coming from the Tablelands for our training sessions each week.

“It’s frustrating for all of us but you can’t fault the group’s enthusiasm. The ground is looking fantastic and it’s about what we’re building towards over the next few years.”

The Crabs will again be without fullback Bevan Reynolds due to an ankle injury, while Joe Drahm and Brandon Maskell remain in doubt.

“All three of them are huge losses for us,” Todd said. “But I don’t think we need to change too much (offensively).

“We can score points – it’s just our defence. We’re still leaking far too many points.”

Raiders captain Dylan Leahy said the match would feature two sides desperate for a win against each other.

“Crabs are a good bunch of boys and play a well-structured game of rugby,” Leahy said.

“We had a pretty good game against Crusaders last week and were definitely in it.

“It was a good learning experience and I think if we can stick to what we do well, we’ll give ourselves a chance.”

In the other FNQ Rugby matches today, Barron-Trinity Bulls host Brothers (5pm), Southside plays Penrhyn in Gordonvale (3.30pm) and JCU take on Wanderers at Yorkeys Knob (3.30pm).