Battlers fight it out
WESTERN Suburbs and Ross River will battle it out for a season first win at Mike Carney Toyota Park this afternoon.
Both teams have endured a tough start to the Townsville and Districts Rugby Union season, with Western Suburbs suffering a 67- 7 loss to North Ward and Ross River on the end of a 88- 0 thumping by Brothers.
But they look poised to turn things around. The Dragons had a bye last weekend to rest and recuperate and Ross River went down fighting against last year’s grand finalists Burdekin in Ayr, losing by just seven points.
Western Suburbs flyhalf Dan Turner said hopes were high the Dragons would bounce back following a disappointing 2016 campaign, which came after a breakout 2015 season featuring the club’s first A grade victories.
“It was a bit rough last season,” he said.
“We did kind of find our feet, but it was still a very challenging year.
“The good thing is this preseason was very different and we’ve changed the attitude around the club, so it’s not just a case of turning up and playing.
“Players are a part of the club, they’re members of it and people look up to the A grade players.
“So the boys really put in 100 per cent at training and they want to have a good year.”
Turner said there had been minimal changes to the club’s first- grade squad, although some handy experience had returned to the Dragons’ fold.
“There wasn’t that much recruiting, but we’ve had a few players who been away for a couple of years come back,” he said.
“We’re optimistic and we want to do better than we did last year.
“We’re not the biggest team but we tackle well, so defensively we’re pretty strong.”
Ross River will surely test the Dragons’ defensive resolve after their promising effort against Burdekin, and its talented backline can trouble the TDRU’s best teams.
North Ward and Brothers clash earlier in the day in what might be the round’s headline game.
North Ward sit on top of the TDRU ladder after scoring two big wins from the opening two games, and Brothers pushed premiers Teachers West all the way in last weekend’s blockbuster.
Teachers have the opportunity to keep their unbeaten run alive when they host firstgrade newcomers Charters Towers at Warrina Park in today’s other game. TDRU Round 3. 4pm: North Ward v Brothers, Mike Carney Toyota Park; 5.30pm: Ross River v Western Suburbs, Mike Carney Toyota Park; 5.30pm: Teachers West v Charters Towers, Warrina Park.