The opportunity to learn from some valuable lessons will be driving a hungry Manly Leagues team in the Sydney Shield on Sunday, July 7.
The Sea Eagles tackle competition leaders Wentworthville Magpies at Ringrose Park and will be out to quickly make amends for a disappointing loss at home last Saturday.
Manly Leagues let slip a strong first half lead to go down 36-28 to the Glebe Dirty Reds last week in a match that saw them lose three key players to concussion,
The Dirty Reds ran in several quick tries to take a 12 point lead before holding off a late charge again from the Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park.
Coach Anthony Watmough said the players understood the importance of sticking to their structure and processes.
"We had a few guys who decided to do things we don’t practice and it really hurt us,'' Watmough said.
"Four of their tries came from individual poor decisions and that’s what cost us.
“It was very disappointing. It was just individual lapses in defence and you can have that at this level.
“We lost three players to HIA at once and that didn’t help. When you lose a prop, a half-back and a hooker, it really puts pressure on the team across the board.
“We still had a good crack and still nearly got them. That is due to our attitude of never giving up.
Match: Magpies v Manly Leagues
Round 14 -
home Team
Magpies
away Team
Manly Leagues
Venue: Ringrose Park, Sydney
“These young men, and I say young because we have an an average age of 19 or 20, are playing seasoned men.
“Most of our men have never played a senior game until this year and probably didn’t think they would for at least another year or so.
“They turn up every week and I know they will again against Wenty.”
The Magpies sit on 21 points with eight wins from 11 games.
The Sea Eagles sit ninth on 12 points with four wins from 11 games in their first season in the Sydney Shield.
