RUGBY league has made its debut in Swan Hill but it wasn’t a good day for the home side who crashed to a 56-14 loss.
The Murray Bulls hosted the day at Gurnett Oval, hosting the Mildura Warriors, but were unable to come away with the win in their debut match.
Despite being a brand new club in the Sunraysia Rugby League competition, the Murray Bulls found a way to score three tries, letting in 11.
Murray Bulls head coach Andrew Cameron said it was a moving experience to have the code make its debut in the region.
“The game was as expected, pretty hectic, but we played against a seasoned side like the Mildura Warriors who have been around for a couple of years now, and we did well,” he told The Guardian.
“We have been looking forward to this and we managed to field our side today, it has been a very exciting and moving experience.
“We scored a few points today but in terms of our discipline and fitness, we have a long way to go, but basic fundamentals and skills, we were pretty good.”
Of the tries the Murray Bulls were able to score, few came from structured play.
Two long range tries got the Bulls on the scoreboard, but it was not enough against the Warriors who used their experience to get the jump on the home side.
Most of their points came through barnstorming runs down the middle of a slowing Murray Bulls side, who were not fit enough to keep up.
The Mildura Warriors will now have a bye, while the Murray Bulls will travel to Mildura to play the Chaffey Titans on May 28.
Mildura Warriors 56 (Tries: S Sesario 2, S Naqila 2, S Ravula 2, B Marika, P Maria Kini, J Tavura, A Nawale, N Tawake; conversions: B Marika 3, P Maria Kini, J Tavura, A Vuniwai Vulimaiwaqanui 1) defeated Murray Bulls 14 (Tries: J Marshall, D Gilchrist, U Mahe; conversions: B Cook)
