AFTER leading Central North to their second Richardson Shield in six years and back into the Caldwell Cup, Matt Schwager will turn his attention back to helping Narrabri defend their Central North premiership.
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The competition resumes on Saturday after a two-week break.
The weekend’s Country Championships was Schwager’s first time away with the Kookaburras – for a number of years anyway.
He hadn’t played rep since his junior days.
“It was nice to play for Central North again,” he said.
The half-back was part of a strong contingent from the premiers and, even with a few late disruptions, was confident they could claim the silverware.
“We had a good side down there and it showed with our results,” he said.
It was some of the toughest conditions he’s played rugby in, with rain before and during the championships turning the fields into quagmires.
“The field was extremely heavy. It was hard on your legs,” he said.
What made it so hard was that they had to play three games in the atrocious conditions in two days.
“It probably wasn’t the best rugby for backs,” Schwager said.
“It was very forward-orientated,” he said.
But as much as they wanted to play an expansive game and utilise the weapons they had out wide, that probably wasn’t too detrimental for the Kookaburras.
After a tough semi-final that they won on a coin toss, it was a hard slog against Southern Inland in the final.
Beau Brummell gave them an ideal start, scoring inside the first three minutes but Southern Inland hit back minutes later to lock up the scores and at one point led 15-8.
Making life even tougher for the Kookaburras, they had to play the last quarter of the game with only 14 after George Duddy was red-carded.
But they dug deep and rumbled their way to the front with just under 10 minutes remaining with Matt Wannan finding some space going blindside off a scrum five out.
Heath Riggs nailed the conversion from near the sideline and they held on to win 20-15.
“We spoke at half-time about keeping it in the forwards, keeping it tight,” Schwager said.
“And we told the backs they had to get in there and do the forwards’ work.”
Their defence was also very good in the second half.
“We spoke about getting off our line quite quickly and forcing mistakes,” he said.
That was where in the end they won it, he thought – their defence.
The former Sydney University skipper has this year dipped his feet into the coaching pool, stepping up to assist Blue Boars coach Hunter Harley.
It is his first time coaching but he’s enjoying it.
They are unbeaten after the first two rounds but bracing for a big challenge on Saturday against grand final combatants Pirates.
“We sort of said with those first two games we just wanted to get those two wins,” Schwager said.
“Our season really kicks off now.”
While acknowledging Pirates aren’t the same side that played in the grand final, he said they are strong all over the park.
“We’ve got to be on our game in the forwards and the backs,” he said adding that after two weeks’ break it’ll be about getting the basics right.
“If we do the basics well we should come away with the result.”
In other games on Saturday, Gunnedah are at home to Walcha, Tamworth host Moree, Barraba head to Inverell and Quirindi tackle Scone.
New England action also resumes on Saturday, with Robb and St Alberts clashing and Glen Innes hosting Barbarians.
The Lions also tasted success on the weekend, with the Colts’ NRMA Shield success highlighting their campaign.
“Our Opens came up against a red-hot Central North outfit in the first match and, while on the wrong end of the scoreline, were far from disgraced,” NERU president David Clifton said.
“The second match was a really good performance from the team.
“The Colts boys looked great in coming away with the NRMA Colts Shield, which bodes well for New England when we host the 2016 championships in Armidale.”