A gallant Glen Innes A grade side went down fighting in a clash with competition favourites Moree Boomerangs to launch the senior rugby league season.
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While the Magpies missed out on the two points to the ‘Rangs, with a 40 points to 30 loss, co-coach Nick Say remained upbeat about the way his side stuck it to last year’s semi-finalists.
“Really happy, it was a massive effort. I actually thought we defended well, I know the scoreline doesn't say it,” he said.
“They [Moree] kicked three 40-20s so they put us on the back foot from that.
“A lot of their tries were from our mistakes really.
“They didn't really go through us which was pretty pleasing, they went around us a couple of times but that doesn't worry me too much - if they are good enough to go around you then that's good enough.
“They are always one of the top teams so I was very happy with the result.”
At half-time the Boomerangs were in front 18-8.
They snuck further ahead before the Magpies kicked into gear.
“They led 28-8 at once stage and then we got a couple of quick tries and that lifted us a little bit,” Say said.
“Once we got the momentum swinging it was good.
“It was 34-30 with about seven minutes and then they scored again.
“We were in it for the 80 minutes anyway.”
The Magpies were down on numbers for the round one encounter but Say said the players who took the field stood up.
“We had a few out but all the younger boys stood up which was very pleasing and good to see,” he said.
“It was a good team effort.”
The Magpies hit the training paddock for their pre-season earlier this year which paid off.
“The fitness kicked in a bit later in the game but the first hit out is always tough - it doesn't matter how much fitness you do, the first game is always the hardest,” Say said.
“You can do so much running but once you get out there, it is a different kind of fitness really.”
Say said Adam Morris, Sam Schiffman and returning player Jamie Watts had “big games.”
This Sunday the Magpies will head to Armidale to take on 2017 runners-up Narwan Eels.
Narwan suffered a 42 points to 14 loss to Inverell in their season opener on Sunday.
The Magpies are expecting personnel to return to the paddock for the round two clash and Say is hoping they can continue where they left off against Moree.
“If we carry our momentum in from this weekend we should be competitive again,” he said.
“Hopefully we get a few boys back which will be even better so good signs anyway.”