Blues battered in season opener

MACCABI’S first foray into the Division-Five Jeffrey Cup didn’t go to plan because both teams lost to Roseville on Saturday.

The first-grade team went down 22-13 in a close match, while the reserve-grade team was smashed around the park, 47-5.

First-grade captain Keith Friedlander said the results were disappointing, but the team was relatively happy. “It was a high-quality game from both teams, and in the end we just didn’t take our opportunities when we had them,” Friedlander said.

He said coach Glen Ella said the team would only get better.

“Glen was obviously disappointed, but he also expressed a lot of the positives that he had seen on the day, and with another big week of training we can improve.

“There were a lot of lessons that we need to learn from the game and mistakes that we made, but as long as we improve every week he will be happy.”

Friedlander said the reserve-grade team played well in the first half, but then was run over in the back-end of the game.

Maccabi will face Rouse Hill when it returns home to Lyne Park this Saturday for its second-round clash.

“We are expecting a high standard of rugby again this week, but we are very exited to go back to our home ground,” Friedlander said.

“Our support at [the] home base means a lot to us, and we are hoping to entertain the crowd and get a good win.”
MACCABI’S first foray into the Division-Five Jeffrey Cup didn’t go to plan because both teams lost to Roseville on Saturday.