Despite a semi-final berth last season, Eastwood’s general manager Rob Frost is hopeful of a more ‘sustained performance’ in 2018

Eastwood general manager looking for Shute Shield side to improve on an ‘up and down’ 2017 season

Eastwood players back at training ahead of the 2018 Shute Shield season

Despite reaching the Shute Shield semi-finals last year, Eastwood Rugby general manager Robert Frost says there is plenty of room for improvement in 2018.

After just scraping into sixth spot at the end of the regular season, the Woods surprised everyone with a 40-34 win over minor premiers Manly in the qualifying final before having their dream run crushed by North Sydney.

However Frost says he thought the side “underachieved” last season.

“We barely crept into the semis and I thought we probably should have been knocked out to be honest,” he said.

“We played very well to get there but the regular season was just way too up and down.

“We’ll be looking for a much more sustained performance this year.”

Eastwood held their first training session for 2018 last week under the watchful gaze of the club’s new first grade coaches.

The club’s director of rugby John Manenti will be taking over the head coaching role from Stu Woodhouse alongside assistant coaches Andrew Clyne, Ben Batger and Matt Nilan.

Eastwood’s first pre season game is scheduled to take place on the first Saturday in March while their quest for the Shute Shield will commence on Saturday, April 7 against Manly at TG Millner Field.