‘Simple errors’ cost Western Clydesdales BMD side in clash with Burleigh Bears

Western Clydesdales BMD Premiership coach Mitch Sargent believed the Clydesdales DNA shone through in his side’s clash with the Burleigh Bears on Saturday. See what the Clydesdales DNA is here.

Western Clydesdales BMD coach Mitch Sargent. Picture: Zain Mohammed/QRL.

The Western Clydesdales BMD side suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday night, with the Burleigh Bears holding on to win 18-14 at Club Pittsworth.

Clydesdales coach Mitch Sargent rued the errors from his side which prevented a potential late comeback.

“Crucial errors at times hurt us and we will look back at the tape and review that,” he said.

“The best thing about this group is they would know where we let ourselves down and it is just purely the simple errors but the best thing about them is they are fixable.”

However, their was still plenty of reason for Sargent to be proud, with his side showcasing the Clydesdales’ DNA as they refused to die and fought back from a large deficit.

“That is the pleasing thing, the fight and the effort all the way to the death is what this team is and part of their DNA,” he said.

“There are so many learning curves we will take out of this as a team, they are a quality team Burleigh, they have been for a long time and to take them to the death like that is pleasing.”

The Bears stormed out of the blocks to take a 14-0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes, with the visitors launching a full-scale assault down the right hand side.

“Some of our new girls probably over respected them a little bit too much at the start and gave them too much footy and control at the start of the first half there and they were up 14-nil and you just can’t do that,” Sargent said.

“It is something we will look at and learn from, sometimes you have to go through these losses to learn from them.

Jessikah Reeves has been one of the key players for the Western Clydesdales in the first two rounds. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“Zahara (Temara) who is their five-eighth, is their number one ballplayer and plays on the right side so we knew a lot of their attack would come through her and that was expected.

“They skinned us a couple of times but to the girls’ credit, they fixed it up and started working as a unit.”

After Temara ran riot on the right and tore through the left-side defence of the Clydesdales in the first half, Sargent believes his side will be able to fix that and become more resolute as a unit with more game time.

“It is just connection and each week we will get better,” he said.

“We are only a new team and to come together and start as a new team these are the things we will have to learn from.

“It is not going to happen overnight so a lot of hard work at training and we will put it into practice every single week.”

With the Clydesdales still yet to field a full strength side, Sargent is confident the best is yet to come.

“The improvement in our team is only going to get better, a lot of the girls are learning to play at this level and if you have never played at this level before it is quite new playing up against some quality names every single week,” he said.

The Western Clydesdales will be back in action on Sunday when they host the Sunshine Coast Falcons at Clive Berghofer Stadium at 4pm.