AFTER having their first taste of Central North finals footy last year, Scone Brumbies are keen to hit that top five this season in the new tiered system.
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The Brumbies opened their season in beautiful sunshine at Quirindi on Saturday, playing the great running rugby they have been training for to win 36-nil.
After 20 minutes it was clear that the Lions couldn’t stop them crossing the line so the Quirindi weather tried to instead.
Brumbies coach Duncan Pinfold said that they were playing perfectly to plan when the skies opened up.
“We wanted to play a territory game from the start and we were camped in their half,” Pinfold said.
“It was great rugby weather and we had scored three tries when the storm came in.
“All of a sudden we were getting hailed on.”
The storm was so heavy that spectators couldn’t see the action from the clubhouse, let alone the chairs being blown about.
There were some calls to stop the match before the storm let up a bit and the game continued.
“The Quirindi pitch was a mudpit and the game went downhill from there,” Pinfold said.
Scone still dominated proceedings but not in the way they would have liked.
“It was very messy football after that,” Pinfold said.
“Any time it went out there would be a scrum soon after.”
Number eight Murray Wilkinson took players’ player for his work around the messy breakdowns.
Fly half Graham Flanigan and prop Doug McKillop also impressed the coach.
The Brumbies lost ten first grade players after their breakthrough season last year and have had to rebuild.
“We don’t have the dynamic players we did last year but we will compete,” Pinfold said.
Scone comfortably ran home winners in reserve grade as well.
The coach took his hat off to Quirindi for fielding two full sides after battling last year.
The real test will be when the Lions travel to Narrabri this Saturday.
Scone will host Barraba.
In the other CNRU game, Inverell Highlanders beat Barraba Rams 29-22 at Rugby Park, Barraba.