Palmerston hoping youthful backs will put Darwin Dragons on back foot

PALMERSTON Crocs coach Aaron Hawthorne feels his side will be well in the mix when it takes on reigning premiers Darwin Dragons in Round 6 of the A-grade Darwin Rugby Union competition.

Palmerston Crocs are hoping to fire against premiers Darwin Dragons. Picture: Che Chorley

PALMERSTON Crocs coach Aaron Hawthorne feels his side will be well in the mix when it takes on reigning premiers Darwin Dragons in Round 6 of the A-grade Darwin Rugby Union competition.

The Crocs are yet to win in the 2020-21 season, but a close loss to South Darwin and a fighting loss to University Pirates has the mentor confident that a win is close.

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“Against Pirates the boys played their best game of the season so far and while disappointed in not getting the win they knew they could have,” Hawthorne told the NT News.

“We have a few new and returning players which has changed the squad attitude and really helped give us a core group which we haven’t had in some time.

“We know that nobody is the team to beat and that it has been a pretty even competition so far so it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few rounds.”

Premiers Dragons have been the frontrunners so far this season winning three from three, and they will look to execute their forward centred game plan once again.

Their leadership group of Drew Tobin and Hirini Murfitt have been in top form with a group of players around them able to pull off tactics best suited to wet season rugby.

Palmerston will look to their speedy backs where they have youth in abundance including Jim Price, Ben Drayton and Nathan Dixon who will look to run around the big Dragons forwards.

Riley Reid is another of the 17-year-old contingent who has impressed in the locks while Ronald Reynolds will make the step up to A-grade for the first time.

“It’s going to be tough against Dragons. They are the reigning premiers for a reason,” Hawthorne said.

“Dragons will look to have a tight, physical game with a mind to slow the ball down as much as possible.

“For us it will be about holding on to the ball and making them play our game. Our strength is our backs and though we’re a younger squad our fitness is starting to show and if we introduce our speed we can give Dragons some problems.”

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Meanwhile, South Darwin will try to clinch a win against a difficult University Pirates outfit in its home game at Warren Park.