PIRATES' preparations for the upcoming Central North season have taken a step forward with two successful trial matches.
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The reigning premiers travelled to Maitland for a three-way clash with the hosts and Merewether Carlton Rugby Club.
The back-to-back games allowed both Pirates' first and reserve-grade players a chance to impress ahead of their round one clash.
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Pirates coach Mick Squires said his charges benefited from the chance to strut their stuff.
"By taking a combined squad, we were really able to have a good look at all of the guys we'd brought down," Squires told the Leader.
"I think it is really important for us to play trial matches against teams we wouldn't normally play against.
"We've worked really hard to develop and build relationships with clubs so that we can have an annual trial match against them.
"It's nice to see that work pay off and overall it was a really good hitout."
Squires said several players had pushed their case for first-grade selection during Saturday's trials.
"It really was a good chance for some of our younger guys to really stand up and show us how keen they were," he said.
"We took a lot of under-19 players down with us as well, so I think they would have taken a lot out of there first experience at senior level.
"Morgan Pennefather was really impressive and did some really good things.
"We were down a few guys due to other sports commitments, but Jye Paterson was able to come down and play after cricket was washed out.
"He was another guy who was really impressive and put his hand up for selection."
Pirates will now turn their attention to a follow up trial match at Ken Chillingworth Oval against Dubbo on March 21.
"We're hoping we can have two open-age men's games and women's sevens game against Dubbo," Squires said.
"It will be before the Super Rugby match at Scully Park, so it should hopefully be a really good day.
"We've been able to build a long-term arrangement with Dubbo to play trial matches against them, so this is something we've been looking forward to for a while."
However, Squires said Pirates may be without several key players for the trial match against Dubbo.
"Former coach Mat Kelly is coaching the Central North representative side for the Super Rugby curtain raiser, so there might be a few of our guys playing in that one," he said.
"If they are playing with us or for the zone, the important thing is they are playing a game. It should be a good weekend and we are looking forward to it."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
