Miners downed in maiden game

By Jarrod Potter
NEW faces were exposed to the harsh conditions of gridiron as the Berwick Miners were downed by the Western Crusaders 7-34.
The run was with the Miners early, pushing through the mud and rain which blanketed Sydney Pargeter Reserve.
Berwick created plenty of chances to score, but were unable to convert their red zone entrances with multiple passes missing their targets.
The score blew out in the end as the Crusaders ran over the top of the Miners, with Berwick unable to make on-field progress.
Miners coach Mel Martin said there’s a lot to work on, but the team will improve with experience and time.
“The reaction was basically not too bad. Even though we lost, 70 per cent of the team had their first game of gridiron. It’s a starting point, and we can only improve from there. It gives the coaching staff a fair idea of what we have to improve,” Martin said.
Martin said there were a lot of positives for the Miners first match of the season.
“Something we’ve been missing over the last couple of years is a good running game. Andrew Jarvis, at running-back, was best for us by a country mile, picking up 87 yards for the game off 14 carries. Daniel Walerian, a cornerback, had two interceptions. Trevor Marks also had an interception and about 7 or 8 hard tackles at free safety. Sam Walker was strong at safety and also called upon to play some offence.”
From the rookie Miners, Martin was pleased with the efforts of Peter Walker and Simi Lavulavu.
“I was impressed with a couple of the rookies, particularly Peter Walker, who hasn’t had a whole lot of training on offensive line, but improved remarkably once he got into the game after 4 or 5 downs. Simi Lavulavu, linebacker, put on a couple of good tackles.”
The Miners take on the Croydon Rangers this week at Cotchin Reserve in Reservoir, a team Martin is wary of, but won’t rule out Berwick creating a few headaches for them.
“They’re a very experienced team. If anything will tell the tale, it’s their experience. Our guys are looking to improve and be competitive,” Martin said.
“It’s not outside the realms of possibility, with our running game and the stiffening of our defence, that we can win the game.”