The Port Magpies started their 2011 campaign with a narrow loss in first grade and a stunning win in the Under 18s.
Without regular coach Scott Payne on duty, Paul Sheldon and Craig Carroll took the reins of the seniors but a well-drilled and professional Killarney Vale outfit from Newcastle started far too strongly.
With the Magpies down by six goals at the first break, it was left to the senior heads such as Dean Nankevill and Matt Lill to help get the Magpies back into the contest and the next three quarters were even.
Lill’s bodywork and Nankevill’s drive helped youngsters like Jack Tate get into the game and play a major role but the Magpies eventually went down by 23 points.
Overall, the Magpies can take heart that their new combinations are one step closer to match fitness and some of the combinations have started to gel.The Magpies travel to Armidale this weekend for the Tablelands Cup which will further round out their preparations.
In the Under 18s hitout last weekend, the likes of Brad Smith, Alex Gillman, Sam Johannson and Kyle Lynch established themselves as potential representative players with outstanding displays.
The Macleay/Nambucca outfit were gallant in defeat despite lacking numbers and coach Carroll rotated some of the Magpies through the Nambucca team in a sporting gesture.
In the end it was a 10-minute centre dominance in the third quarter that set up a five-goal victory for the Magpies which was done largely on the back of Smith’s ruckwork.
There were a number of 18s making their debut for the Magpies which also pleased the coach; and the superior fitness of the Magpies was also a critical factor in the victory.
The official North Coast season starts for the Magpies on April 16 with a home game against the Coffs Swans in Port Macquarie.
If you would like to train with the Magpies, sessions are held on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Stuarts Park from 5.30pm to 7.30pm (18s starts at 5.30pm, seniors at 6pm) and you can call Paul Sheldon on 0417 567 675 for further information.
