Melton Warriors’ return to the Victorian Rugby Union has gone better than they could have imagined.
The club had to pull the pin in the middle of last season because of a shortage of numbers but returned this year with nine senior and junior teams.
Warriors vice-president Liam Devlin said they were hoping to field one senior team and a couple of junior teams, but had well and truly exceeded that.
“When we sat down at the start of the season we thought we may be lucky and have a senior team and under-10 and under-12,” he said.
“We’ve got those three teams and we’ve been able to field a mixed women’s team, as well as teams from under-6 through to under-18.”
And in a bonus for the Warriors, several teams, including the senior men’s team, are in with a chance of making finals.
With three rounds to go, the Warriors are on top of the second division B ladder and second in division 2.
On Saturday, the seniors beat Eltham 20-10 to make it 10 wins in a row.
Most of the side is playing together this season for the first time.
“We have only five players who have been here in the past,” Devlin said.
“Our coaches, Mike Borrell and Te TeHay, have come from huge coaching backgrounds. Mike was a school rugby coach and Te coached rugby in the navy.
“They brought a number of players with them.”
A win this week against ladder leaders Melbourne will cement the Warriors’ place in the top two.
“Going into a lower division than we’d previously played in we thought we’d be a top-four side with the quality of players around Melton. But to go on a 10-0 run was totally unexpected.
“Melbourne will be a tough game and if we can get over the line against them we’re a chance for the minor premiership.
“A loss could see us fall to third or fourth. We want to finish in the top two as it guarantees a quarter final.”
Apart from Melbourne, Devlin sees Ballarat as the biggest challenger.
“They’re the team to beat even though we are above them,” he said.
“Some teams don’t travel as well, like Ballarat, but when you play them at home they’re very hard to beat.”
