An improved forward pack laid the foundation for an emphatic 75-7 win for the Kempsey Cannonballs over the Armidale Barbarians in their first and only pre-season match on Saturday.
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The Cannonballs came out of the blocks slow but before long they imposed their dominance as the side's newly recruited props, Nathan Phillips and Don Aufuta, combined well with veteran forwards Tasi Afoa and Braden Farrawell to put the Barbarians on the backfoot.
Cannons coach Carl Thurgood was very pleased with the performance and is glad the side will have an additional threat in attack for the upcoming season.
"Traditionally, we have always been quite a small team but on the weekend, with the new bigger bodies in the side, we were able to dominate around the ruck and get great go-forward which the backs were able to take advantage of," Thurgood said.
"We have young and talented backs and giving them the ball on the front foot allowed them to showcase their abilities.
"It was really positive signs and hopefully something we can continue to utilise when the season commences."
The pre-season trial match was broken into four quarters and the Cannonballs held a 17-7 lead at the first break. However, it was their defence which was most impressive.
"They had the majority of the ball in the first quarter but we muscled up in defence," Thurgood said.
"The two tries we scored were on the back of forcing a mistake and we capitalised on the counter attack."
The Cannonballs put their foot down for the remainder of the contest and showed no mercy as they piled on the points.
Thurgood was most impressed with five-eighth Heath Lancaster and 17-year-old Caden Allen, who played scrumhalf.
"Heath was terrific once again," Thurgood said.
"He played the second half of the season in first grade last year and you can tell that has improved his confidence. He took control of the team and played really well.
"Caden was also very impressive in his first call up to first grade. He has trained really well and will be in the picture for a spot for our first game."
Thurgood credited the dedication to pre-season training for the side's first up success.
"I think the result comes down to the consistent turn up at training this pre-season," he said.
Kempsey battles Armidale in a pre-season match on an annual basis but Thurgood and his teammates couldn't remember a time when they had earned the victory in the 'Surf to Turf Cup' on the road.
The Cannonballs' first grade side will have their first match on April 13 against the Coffs Harbour Snappers.
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