Harden Rugby participated in the Boorowa Travla Beer and Rugby festival last Saturday, with the team enjoying a taste of the season to come.
There were a few players out last weekend so the team was grateful when some community members stepped up to widen the pool of players and provide some much needed back up.
Overall, the team was very happy with the results from the day, winning over Wagga Ag 7-5 and Uni North 7-5 and only just missing out on the win with Parkes 5-7.
All games were hard fought, however the boys came out victorious in two out of three of the games.
The Red Devils first game was up against Wagga Ag with some impressive hits put on the Wagga side to ensure they stayed on the wrong side of the try line.
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It was thanks to some quick footwork that ensured the boys got on the board and ahead of the Wagga side in what was some cool and wet conditions.
In their second game against Uni North the Red Devils were once again great in defence holding out the Canberra team.
It was another breakaway from the Red Devils that saw an impressive try for the locals and an easy conversion put them ahead.
The rest of the game the boys managed to keep the Owls from crossing again and had the Red Devils bringing home two from three wins for the day.
Harden coach and player Jack Alcorn reflected on the experience, highlighting the benefits of facing off against teams they wouldn’t typically encounter in the regular season. “It was a good chance to see how the other teams are run and how the players operate on the field,” he said, noting that the experience offered insight into new strategies that could be applied in their own game plan.
The team expressed their gratitude to Boorowa for organising the event, which remains a highlight on the rugby calendar. “It’s a great event every year with great teams and good, clean games,” Alcorn added.
With the festival behind them, Harden is now focused on their first game against Cootamundra, a crucial matchup that will serve as an early indicator of both teams' chances in the race for a top-four finish. Fans can expect a competitive clash as Harden looks to build on their strong preseason form.
