BY ALEX TIGANI
Rugby Union returns to the Upper Hunter this Saturday with all seven senior line-ups hosting their respective Round 2 clashes.
The Scone Brumbies will play host to Gunnedah across all three grades in the Central North Rugby Union.
Former teammates and current women’s coaches Jock Miller and Evan Gearylook forward to building their squad together despite a heavy season opening defeat to the Tamworth Pirates.
Geary hopes the women’s squad will accommodate the talents from the under-18 team he also coaches as time goes on.
“We had a women’s side in the sevens competition and then covid hit so this is almost a reincarnation of the sevens competition,” Geary explained.
He has welcomed the addition of Miller, a Brumbies great from 1992-2005, following a lengthy hiatus away from the game.
“I came and watched two of the girls games last year and I thought there was a lot of effort and a lot of enthusiasm,” Miller added.
“It is an easier job with two people doing it then sort of leaving it on one person’s shoulders.”
The club’s men’s sides faced a 31-7 defeat in first grade following a 66-5 loss in the lower tier on Saturday.
Club stalwart Duncan Pinfold, who modestly admits he stuck his hand up for a third stint as first grade coach, told The Hunter River Times that Tamworth was a dominant club in the zone prior to the match.
“I think we have taken a turn with getting our culture back, we are getting good numbers at training and we have some local guys back,” Penfold said.
MEANWHILE the Singleton Bulls have dropped down from the Newcastle Premier Rugby competition, fielding two sides in the suburban league (formerly known as NHRU Divisional).
Singleton Bulls Black will hope to bounce back from their season opening 33-7 defeat to Griffins when hosting Cooks Hill at 2:10pm while before Singleton Bulls Red host the Waratahs at 3:20pm after an impressive 47-0 annihilation of Cooks Hill.
After an absent 2022 and a season opening 19-13 win over Medowie the Singleton Arny Lions will host Griffins at 3pm.
Medowie will now travel to play the Pokolbin Reds at Nulkaba with both sides looking for a win.
