The season may have come to an end in the first week of finals for Melton Rugby Union Club, but for the club it was a year of success.
After being promoted at the end of last season when they finished runners-up in Victoria Rugby Union’s 2B, the Warriors were unsure how they would go this year.
President Nick Garnham said it had been a fantastic season for the senior side, despite it ending with a 36-21 loss to Geelong Rams in an elimination semi-final.
“We didn’t think we’d make finals at all,” Garnham said.
“Some of the boys we put out there panicked a little when we started in A-grade, but once out there, the results came through.
“We were happy with the end result but it has made the boys hungrier to go that next step next season.”
The results on the field were backed up off the field.
The club had 50 senior players registered and started the season with a senior and reserves team. While the club ended up fielding just one team towards the end of the year, numbers were as high as they had ever been.
Garnham said the aim next season was to have two full teams all year. He said the club was as strong as it had been for a number of years.
“Many of our senior players were playing two games and getting burnt out, so we focused on having one strong team,” he said.
“We’ll be trying to recruit players and have two teams for the full year.
“On the junior sides of things, it’s been speculator. We’ve had a really good mix of boys and girls and I’ve never seen so many juniors at Melton.
“We had 10 teams and it keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
After a season like no other, the Warriors aren’t finished yet.
As well as senior men’s teams Garnham said the club is planning a women’s team and netball teams.
“There’s a lot of exciting things on the horizon,” Garnham said. “It’s quite exciting the direction the club is going.”
