The long awaited 2015 rugby union season kicked off last Saturday with a lengthy bus trip for the Scone Brumbies to their first game in Inverell.
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Following two pre-season games at their home ground, plenty of work was done on the training paddock to rectify the mistakes made and focus on the new combinations throughout the team.
With the added pressure of being the tier two premiers in 2014, both grades had a lot to live up to, but knew it would always be a tough battle against the Highlanders, especially away from home.
In warm conditions, a number of young players made their first grade debut for the Brumbies mainly in what is a fresh faced backline compared to last year.
Scone got off to a great start with a penalty just outside the oppositions 22 straight in front of the posts, which Matt O’Donnell converted to leave Scone 3 to 0 up just minutes into the game.
However the game tempo was played at a frantic pace and it took a while for the Brumbies to adjust and find their feet following the four hour bus trip.
Unfortunately during this time the Highlanders clocked up a few scores of their own and Scone found themselves chasing the game.
Although being on the back foot, Scone showed fantastic defensive pressure in the mid field, forcing an error from the Inverell back, and outside centre Taylor Holland-Wright pounced on the loose ball and made the 50 metre dash to score under the posts.
The Brumbies were unfortunate in the last minute of the first half after Sean Trewin made a darting run up the sideline only to be covered by a great tackle from the Inverell full back right on the line.
Scone re-grouped at half time but again were unlucky to concede an early try to the Highlanders.
To their credit, the Brumbies fought back and through some quick thinking from break away Daniel Burt, he crashed over from a five metre penalty, along with another try to make a double for Taylor Holland-Wright. The game finished at 24 to 20 to the home team, but Scone can take away many positives from their opening match ahead of the trip to Barraba this weekend.
In what was always a tough trip north, Scone’s second grade just fielded a full complement of players against a well drilled and aggressive Inverell squad.
Scone got off to a slow start letting in two early tries, partially due to the lack of time spent together on the training paddock.
But Scone began to gel together well towards the end of the first half coming away with a well worked try from Anthony Simpson after some dominant forward play inside the oppositions 22.
This showed what Scone were really capable of when they kept their hands on the ball and put some good phase play together.
Inverell ran out comprehensive winners at 42 to 7 when Scone tired in the second half with no back up on the bench.
Overall, first grade coach Anthony Kent was happy with the way the first grade side performed, noting that they had not done an abundance of training on their defence in the pre-season, so he was delighted with the strength shown on the paddock on Saturday.
The Brumbies now face Barraba in another trip away from home this weekend in what should be another close match.