Blues look to bounce back
MACCABI Blues’ stalwart Kevin Jankelowitz is convinced his side can put a dour 2014 campaign behind it and kick off with a strong start in Saturday’s season opener to help celebrate the club’s 10th successive year of competition.
“Things are looking really good,” Jankelowitz, who has played all 10 seasons, told the AJN.
“Last year we struggled a bit through the season with injuries, but we’re shaping up as a really solid team. Our first trial games last week were way better than could have been expected.”
In a mini-preseason tournament, the Blues’ partook in games against the Sydney Convicts and the Sydney Halerquins, showing encouraging signs in hot and sunny conditions at Lyne Park.
“There’s a lot of young guys coming through, a changing of the guard of sorts,” Jankelowitz said.
“We were mid to lower end of the [Suburban Rugby Division 6 Meldrum Cup] table in 2014, but now we’re looking like real contenders. The spirit among the team is really enthusiastic and quite incredible.”
Coached by former Maccabi player Kevin Molnar, the side features a raft of fresh-blooded newbies, including Gidon Butow, Tom Wright, Shimon Danziger and Josh Bloom.
Butow in particular is a player to watch, according to Jankelowitz, and will make his mark as a loose forward, while courageous winger Jamie Schey is also set to for a significant contribution.
Shaun Jankelowitz joins his brother for a 10th season with the side, as winger Dan Munitz, lock Josh Horwitz and front-rowers Josh Hoffman and Seb Kosmin retake the field after making strong impressions in 2014.
The squad can also look forward to the welcome returns of stars Dean Freidlander, Mitch Brown and Simon Molnar, but Jankelowitz says they are always on the lookout for new players with or without previous rugby experience.
ADAM BLAU
Pictured: Maccabi Blues’ Gidon Butow bursts through the Convicts’ defence in a preseason clash. Photo: Timothy Wilson
Anyone interested in joining Maccabi Blues can contact Marcus Schweizer on 0402 968 894.
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