'We were strong': North Tamworth Bears take valuable lessons from trial

The new Bears supremo thought it an excellent hit-out before his side matches up against newly-promoted Manilla in the Group 4 season opener at Jack Woolaston Oval on Sunday, April 10.

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Boyce said the Bears played their Greater Northern Tiger representatives Mitch Sheridan, Kobe Bone, Liam Ball and Scott Blanch in the first half of what was a tight game.

"They led 10-4 at halftime," Paul Boyce said.

"They scored two intercept tries but we were strong and had a good attitude."

While Sheridan, Bone and Blanch sat out the second half Liam Ball played "for probably 70 minutes".

"He was outstanding," Paul Boyce said of the young hooker.

"Very good out of dummy half. Jake McManus was very good too. He started off in the back row but had to play in the middle was really good for us."

Boyce said he had to rely on a few second-graders to fill as well with the likes of Dermot Fields, Jay Graham and Luke Fisher playing full Second Grade games before running on for the First Grade trial.

"Denman was strong too and well led by Liam Foran and Bailey Taylor," Boyce said.

"We did it a bit tough after I took our halves [Sheridan and Blanch] off."

He thought Jake Bennett had a good game with Ethan Collins also impressing after joining the Bears from Dungowan.

"We had Adrian Graham and Ashton Constable make their First Grade debuts too," he said while also liking what he saw from Trevor Wilson in the Second Grade trial.

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