RUGBY LEAGUE: The Roos have seen a lot of improvement since round one and did not make any monumental mistakes in their 24-point loss to Gungahlin at Freebody Oval on Saturday, Roos assistant coach Jack Giddings said they simply ran out of puff.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Queanbeyan lost forward Adam Pearce early, who spent some time in the sin bin, and the flood gates were opened for the visitors.
The Bulls had 70 per cent of possession in the first quarter of the match, which did not allow the Roos to make much ground at all.
Three opportunies to score in the first half arose for the Roos, but could not be completed.
Gungahlin on the other hand could do no wrong- in 21 first half sets they only made one mistake and went into halftime with a convincing 16 to 6 lead.
The margin obviously got to the Roos and cracks in their defensive line started to appear, tackles did not stick and one-on-one battles were lost.
The Roos only managed to score another try to the Bulls 20-point second half- Gungahlin finished with a 34 to 10 win.
"We started very poorly, we had three scoring opportunities in the first half and we blew them," Assistant coach Giddings said.
"But at halftime we were still in a position to make something of it.
"We tried our hardest to stay in the game, but we were short-handed at the end with a couple of sore bodies and we just ran out of energy."
Giddings echoed previous comments by Roos captain/coach Aaron Gorrell saying the team is a "work in progress".
"We've got new faces, like the three English boys, it takes a while to blend together," Giddings said.
"We have to work on our defensive pattern and work on our concentration, attention to detail and completing every set.
"If we get momentum it's good, but if the opposition gets momentum it's hard to get back.
"The effort was there, we just need concentration and communication on the defensive line."
Fullback Bryan Cronan once again starred for the Roos, prop Ben Shulver, half back Jack Miller and Adam Pearce worked well and Gorrell provided some leadership to the young group, Giddings said.
On Saturday, May 16, Seiffert Oval will host the first Queanbeyan Derby of 2015 and Giddings said his Roos will need to step up to make a contest, but would never count anything out in a derby.
"We're always going to get out there and try our best," he said.
"Controlling the footy was always an issue up until last week, but everyone lifts for the local derby.
"You never count yourself out, you prepare to play well and if everyone performs well it should be a real contest."
GUNGAHLIN BULLS 34 (Chris Thorley, Dwayne Connors, David Howell, Jack Elliot, Aidan Greenwood, Toikan Moinokoa tries; Thorley 5 goals) bt QUEANBEYAN ROOS 10 (Jedi Simbiken, Adam Pearce try; Jack Miller goal) at Freebody Oval.
