The Aquis Entertainment John I Dent Cup enters Round 2 this weekend with a trio of fascinating contests taking place across Canberra with the Hahn SuperDry match of the round will seeing Wests meet Easts at Jamison Oval.
Both clubs were defeated on the opening day of the season, Wests going down 20-26 to Queanbeyan Whites whilst Easts put in a gallant effort before falling 5-43 to Tuggeranong Vikings.
Despite falling to losses in their first matches of the campaign there were enough indications from both groups that the contest at Jamison will be a highly entertaining match-up.
Easts looked to be a vastly improved outfit on last season’s form and Head Coach John Ross believes they just need a bit of time to work their combinations out.
“We just need to tighten our structure, first time the guys have all played together,” Ross said. “Wests looked good against Queanbeyan, they’ll be a good challenge, but we are going out there to win.”Wests who were down 26-6 midway through the second half, recovered to make a game of it and almost claimed a come from behind victory against last year’s runners up but they ultimately fell just short.
Only fielding four players from last year’s squad, Wests Captain Harry Lloyd believes the team is coming together nicely but knows that Easts will provide a tough challenge.
“The Whites match was the first time the boys have all played together, we had many new faces and in the last twenty minutes we showed that we gelled quite nicely,” Lloyd said. “Easts are such an unpredictable side, so we are not taking them lightly, it will be a big challenge up front.”
Elsewhere the Whites look to go two from two when they travel to Nicholls Enclosed to face the Gunghalin Eagles whilst Uni-North Owls head to Phillip Oval to tackle the Royals in what will be the season opener for the two sides.
FIXTURES
Wests vs Easts
(Jamison Oval, 3.05pm)
Live streamed Hahn SuperDry match of the round
Royals vs Uni-Norths Owls
(Phillip Oval, 3.05pm)
Gungahlin Eagles vs Queanbeyan Whites
(Nicholls Enclosed, 3.05pm)
