Armidale Blues women's sevens co-coach Andrew Patfield was more than rapt with the promise his side showed in their trial against the Glen Innes Elkettes.
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The Blues snared a win in the opening match by a conversion before being beaten in the second game.
"I think we just didn't have enough time to turn around and recover," Patfield said.
"A lot of our girls were gassed by the end of that first game."
"They now know the speed of sevens and I said to them 'that first game is what we expect and the bar is now set."
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But Patfield was still thrilled with their performances.
"I am very impressed with how it went, I couldn't be happier," he said.
"I am not too worried about the score, it is more about getting the structure right.
The Blues squad boasts plenty of new faces who have signed up to rugby this year for the first time.
"There was some very big standouts, I am very happy with how the newbies handled themselves," Patfield said.
"There were a few that looked a little bit lost at times but the other girls got around them and they helped them out."
Elkettes captain Sarah Byrne was similarly happy overall with their effort and believes there is plenty of potential within the squad.
"Look, for the fact it was our first game, we played unreal," she said.
"We couldn't be more proud of everyone and their efforts.
"I think just not playing together ever was the only weakness but literally we all have the ball skill and heart to go the whole way."
It puts them in good stead for the coming season with a handful a players not available for the trial match.
"We were missing a couple of players like Sarah Woolfe and Bella Reardon who will add heaps of impact when they do play," Byrne said.