The Maitland Blacks played an impressive brand of running rugby to defeat Hornsby Lions 36-14 in a trial match at Marcellin Park on Saturday night.
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The crowd included Wallabies greats David Campese, Greg and Gary Ella and John Muggleton, as well as special guest Maitland's Kyrah Sager who is recovering after breaking her neck in a recent Rugby 7s game.
Blacks coach Luke Cunningham was pleased with his side's performance in their second and final trial before the season kicks offs on Saturday, April 23, with Maitland hosting University at Marcellin Park.
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Cunningham said lack of match practice and wet condition led to some of the ball handling being a bit scrappy at times.
"When we held onto the ball and built up a little bit momentum and pressure we looked really good and ended up scoring some tries off it," Cunningham said.
"The boys tried a few things, some of it came off, some of it we fell a bit short but we've got time to work on that over the next three weeks.
"If anything the execution let us down at times but that's what trial matches are for to work on that.
"The most important thing was blokes were in the right position, we had the shape we want to be in.
"The communication was really good, it's just we need to execute that final pass."
The Blacks last trial against Port Macquarie has been cancelled so they will hold a training session this Saturday.
Cunningham said competition for spots was hot and players were fighting to keep their positions.
There was a real aggression in the Blacks tackling and running which Cunningham said they will need to compete against the top teams which have big packs.
"We need to match their size and aggression. We've certainly got the skill, we just need to match their aggression and physicality," he said.
"We've got a very mobile pack which suits the style of game we want to play, which brings that whole physicality into play, substituting that little bit of size we might not have in a couple of spots with a bit more aggression and physicality.
"We've got some really great depth through the grades as well, there's some very good footballers in second grade and that just adds to the competition and blokes have to perform each week to retain their spots."
