With the Drifta Camping & 4WD Manning team performing so well in the previous two years, interest has sparked to create a 13's Manning team and a men's team as well this year.
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All three teams travelled away on Saturday, April 14 for their games, here's how they fared.
Gloucester men's team return to the field after 20 years
The Gloucester Soldiers Club men's team played their second game of the season on Saturday, April 14 after a 6-1 loss to the Hallidays Point Barracudas the week before. Gloucester was back and ready this week playing the Tinonee Eagles, after being 0-0 for a while through the first half until Gloucester conceded two goals. Early in the game Darren. was excused from the field after an injury to his leg, and conceded two more goals to speedy strikers. Coach Steve brought on some fresh legs with a few good attacks from Joel and Sam.
After an inspiring team talk by Steve, the second half was under way, and not long into it, Gloucester made some wonderful attacks with Corbin. taking a shot in which the keeper fumbled the ball while Aiden seized the opportunity and slotted one into the net. Gloucester resiliently continued the attacking with Corbin. scoring two great goals and was on the comeback trail with Beau. making some great saves and some links in play with Brandon, Cadel and Darren but it just wasn't to be with Tinonee scoring numerous goals, despite brilliant defending by Mathew and Tyler. The final score, Gloucester Scorpions 3, Tinonee Eagles 9.
A new 13's Manning team
The 13's faced a tough Tuncurry Gold side for their first game and played hard despite the heat, with scores locked at 0-0 for the first 20 minutes we thought it was going to be a very close game.
They started to tire in the second half and with all players now playing on the bigger sized field, found it hard to find their feet towards the end of the game.
Despite having a few shots at their keeper, we were unable to find the net. All played really well for their very first game as a team, final score 12-0 to Tuncurry.
Some season changes for Drifta Camping & 4WD
The Drifta team differs slightly from the last two years line up, and welcome new players, Aiden Coombes, Cody Howard, Bailey Hughes and Isaac McClure, after losing some key players due to moving away from the area. Drifta also face another battle this year as they will be stepping up to play in the 16's league and bypassing the 15's, providing a more challenging game for them. Despite Drifta having such a fantastic first two years as 2016 Premiers and 2017 GrandFinal winners, they will still definitely have some gruelling matches ahead of them this year being such a young team.
Drifta travelled to Moorland to face the Moorland Devils who have won their last three out of four Grand Finals, knowing this, we knew it was going to be a tough game right from the get go. Josh A. made some great saves in the first half, while Beau B. and Aiden H. attempted to nail it in the net. Jack B. and Hayden R. forged on in defence, while Isaac E.B had a great game in goals second half. Final score Moorland 6 - Gloucester 0. A great outcome for their first game and for our young players stepping up to the next level. Many thanks goes out to Luke from Drifta Camping & 4WD for their sponsorship three years in a row!
Next round is Saturday April 28 and all games are at home.
The 13s verse Taree Wildcats at 10:20am.
Drifta 16s verse Tuncurry Tigers at 11:30am.
Gloucester Soldiers Club men's also verse Tuncurry Tigers at 1:00pm.
These are the first home games of the season and also the men's first home game in almost twenty years with Matthew Trudgeon currently being the only original player from that era playing in the team now.
