Promotion to a higher grade is proving every bit the challenge the Melton Rugby Union Club was expecting.
But the Warriors are not entirely out of their depth after being promoted to the top level of the Victoria Rugby Union’s second division.
The Warriors, who secured promotion after finish runners-up in 2B last season, have won two of their first four games and are fourth on the ladder, only percentage behind third-placed Shepparton.
In the two games they’ve lost, including Saturday’s 26-24 loss to Bendigo, the side has been competitive.
Warriors vice-president Liam Devlin said the mixed results were nothing they had not been expecting.
“We beat Ballarat, which was revenge for last season’s grand final loss,” he said. “There’s been a lot more travel, which we admit has been a challenge.
“Most of the teams in the competition are regional sides. It is a harder competition than last season – the quality and standard of the teams has improved.
“The focus each week has been getting a competitive side on the park. The club is doing extremely well.”
Devlin said the Warriors’ next run of matches would include several games at home, which would help their cause.
Melton will play Shepparton this week at home.
“Hopefully we’ll get back to winning some more games,” Devlin said.
“Against Bendigo we only had 14 players travel. Getting sides together to travel is harder than when playing at home. Once we are home. I think we’re a more competitive side.”
The club’s second side has been having a harder time, with just a single win for the season. It’s the first time the club has fielded more than one senior side.
Devlin said the seconds lacked depth, but that would come as the side developed.
“We’ve only had one team for 30 years,” he said.
“We want to build a second side and return to [being] one of the real powerhouses.”
He said the club had 18 players in each of the two senior squads, but was still looking for more players, with each squad able to have 23.
The Warriors’ under-18B and under-16B teams had wins at the weekend while the under-14A side lost.
