Wet, muddy and miserable is how the conditions were described by supporters who braved the weather at Maroochydore last weekend to watch the Ray White Noosa Dolphins take on their traditional foes.
The scoreboard in all games matched the conditions with the Swans victors in A Grade, Reserve Grade and Colts with the women having a bye.
Despite the 17-12 loss, A Grade coach Matt Buckland was still able to identify a number of positives in the performance. “Those conditions were deplorable, but both sides had to deal with that and the Swans did that better than us.
“We took a lot out of that game with the team never taking a backward step and, thankfully, the boys remain upbeat despite the loss,” he said.
While the conditions didn’t suit the Noosa game plan, fullback James Wilson-Bishop relished in both attack and defence, taking out the man of the match honours.
Lessons too were learnt in the reserve grade loss, but not the sort they wanted, according to coach Mark Winder.
“The conditions were poor, but our discipline was poorer,” Winder said.
“You are not going to win matches when playing with 14 men for 40 minutes of the match,” he mused as he reflected on the two yellow and one red cards issued to his charges.
Down 6-3 at half time, match ended with a 16-8 score line.
Away again this weekend, the Ray White Noosa Dolphins head to Caboolture taking on the Snakes who sit just three points behind them on the ladder.
Another loss on the road will see the Dolphins drop out of the top four midway through the season, a position that places more pressure on the young team.
With a string of five home matches after this weekend, the Dolphins will be keen to retain the top four spot as they enjoy some home ground support heading into round three.
