JUNEE’S premiership potential is continuing to build with the Diesels winning a trial against Tuggeranong at Laurie Daley Oval last Saturday.
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Captain-coach Matt Hands wasn’t fussed on the overall performance but was pleased with the team’s defensive effort and said it was a good hit out.
“We were pretty average with the ball,” Hands said.
“There were a lot of cobwebs found on the weekend and we need to do some more work.”
While the preseason has been one of the club’s best in recent memory, Hands said the team needed more work to develop cohesion and strengthen their structure.
“We’re defending brilliantly, it’s second to none,” he said.
“We can score points from anywhere (on the field), but we need work on the structure.
“Being such a new side, it was always going to take time to get that attack in place.
“Once our attack is in place, we’ll be a more complete side.”
Hands said the solid recruiting is paying dividends for the club but stressed more game time was needed for the team to develop.
Among the newcomers making an impression was teenager Tristan Dickson.
Hands said the 19-year-old was lightning fast and could score from anywhere, a point he demonstrated by collecting a loose ball at halfway, dodging the opposition and running the field to score.
It was just one of the three tries Dickson scored in a game split into three 20 minute intervals.
Harold Kirby scored the Diesels four try with Hands kicking four goals for a total of 24 points to Tuggeranong’s 14.
Meanwhile, lock Pat Guthrie stood out for the Diesels in the centre.
“We were still missing four or five first grade players from the weekend, but Tuggeranong were also missing a few so it made it an even contest.”
After playing their own game in under 18s, three or four players lined up for first grade.
Hands said this weekend’s trial against Tumut would be another chance for the team to work on its attack.
“Everyone’s excited, if we can keep putting in we’ll be in for a good year,” he said.
This weekend, Junee’s league tag and under 18s will play a knockout at Gundagai on Saturday.
On Sunday an under 16s tournament will be played in Junee before the trial against Tumut which starts at 2.30pm.
Scoreboard
Junee 24 (Tristan Dickson 3, Harold Kirby tries; Matt Hands 4 goals) d Tuggeranong 14
