WITH just weeks to go until season 2021 gets underway, Group 2 Rugby League kicked off its pre-season competition with Round 1 matches played in Coffs Harbour and Macksville.

The Coffs Harbour Comets and Sawtell Panthers opened their Tooheys New Group 2 Rugby League pre-season competition with a local derby at Geoff King Motors Oval.

After narrowly going down by two points in their first trial match of the season against the Port Macquarie Sharks, the Comets under 18’s bounced back in style with a dominant 44-4 win against the Panthers.

Despite his side’s big win, Comets under 18’s coach Kerrod Selmes was looking at the bigger picture as they prepared for the upcoming season.

“I’m not really worried about results in the pre-season as it’s more of a chance to work on our combinations and structure,” he said.

“We have two more trials before the season kicks off and it’s about giving everyone an equal run.”

Selmes praised the defensive efforts of his young Comets.

“Our defence showed a lot of desperation, and a lot of urgency whenever Sawtell made a break,” he said.

Selmes told News Of The Area the clubs under 18’s numbers had grown as the season approached.

“We had 21 players for the trial, and that’s good considering we only had seven players at training two weeks before,” he said.

The Comets Women’s League Tag team made it a winning double for the club with a 28-12 win against the Panthers.

The Comets are the defending premiers of the Group 2 Women’s League Tag having won the last competition in 2019.

The scheduled pre-season matches between the South Grafton Rebels and Grafton Ghosts had to be rescheduled due to the grounds being closed due to wet weather.

The Comets continue their pre-season with Round 2 matches against the Bellingen Magpies and Macksville Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon at Bellingen.

 

By Aiden BURGESS