RUGBY LEAGUE
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IN a match where defence fell by the wayside with 94 points being scored in 80 minutes, Orange Barbarians captain-coach Jason McClymont is just happy his side scored the bulk of them and secured its first win of the 2015 New Era Cup.
The Barbarians piled on 54 points in their win over Kandos, but incredibly only won by 14 thanks to the Waratahs also putting on 40 at Max Stewart Oval on Saturday.
“Defence certainly wasn’t the strong point of the game,” McClymont said.
“But it’s good to get a win. We were three and none before that, so we definitely needed it.
“It’s positive for us to be scoring that many points, but I guess it is a bit bittersweet to concede 40 at the same time. At least we know what to work on though.”
McClymont said his side’s execution in its losses to Villages United (34-6), CSU Blue (30-16) and Wallerawang Warriors (44-12) was lacking, but it finally came together against Kandos.
“We’d been bombing four or five tries every game,” McClymont said.
“When you do that and lose by 30, it could have changed the entire game. We finally stuck some plays, and got over the line a bit on the weekend which was great.
“Just being able to string some points together in general was a really good part of the win.”
Centre Darren Davis and fullback Joel Wiseman both bagged hat-tricks in the win, and McClymont also highlighted Michael Newman, playing centre rather than his normal pivot role, and Johnny Rose, filling Newman’s vacant halfback spot, as strong in the win.
“Ash Johnson also led from the front all day from prop,” McClymont said.
“Darren and Michael were very strong, but all the guys were pretty good.”
The Barbarians travel to Blackheath’s Don Bradman Oval to take on the Blackcats on Saturday, a tough road trip by anyone’s measure.
“They will be tough up there,” McClymont said.
“But we need to string a few more wins together, and this weekend is a chance for us to do that.”
In Saturday’s other New Era Cup results, CSU Blue made a mockery of Lithgow Giants, winning 82-4, Wallerawang defeated Lithgow Bears 22-4 and Blackheath beat Villages 14-4.
