Photo: Coach Chris Rawlinson awarded Players Player in the Reserve Grade win 

It was an up and down weekend for the Magpies in the Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup tournament with First Grade going down 18 – 26 and Reserve Grade winning 22 – 6 to the West Belconnen Warriors. Meanwhile, South Coast United forfeited late to the Magpies Ladies in the Katrina Fanning Shield comp when they were unable to fill a team.

First Grade Coach Cam Hardy said nothing gelled in the match against Wests and everything went out the window.

“They just lacked discipline and patience this week more so than most weeks,” Cam said. “Again, the game was there that they could have had it and they had enough opportunity.”

West only had about 12 players for 25 minutes after one was sent off, but the Magpies still couldn’t get across the line.

Despite the loss, the day had a jovial atmosphere with the Club’s Family and Community Day drawing a large crowd to the paddock.

“We had the Family and Community Day, which was great but the KFS girls along with the committee took control of that.”

“It was a fantastic day, the kids loved it,” the coach said. “There was a jumping castle, face painting, food and cake stalls.”

There were a handful of games like relays for both big and little kids followed by the club’s first function of the year that evening, a trivia night and raffle.

“The Katrina Fanning girls did a really good job,” Cam said. “They really set the benchmark… and the first function of the year was well attended and well run.”

Next week the Magpies are up against the Queanbeyan Blues at Seiffert Oval on Saturday, June 4:

  • Magpies KFS – 12pm
  • Magpies Reserve Grade – 1:20pm
  • Magpies First Grade – 3:00pm

“It will certainly be a big task,” the coach said. “One that we are certainly capable of but probably need to get ourselves in order to come up to that challenge.”

“We’re not playing at home so we don’t have to the help of the hometown crowd and we go to Seiffert Oval, which isn’t a happy hunting ground but it’s been done before.”

Cam said there’s no issue with the Magpies getting things done but it’s how they turn up on the day, hopefully with a better attitude and discipline, and show a little bit of patience.

“The last three games we were, well and truly in, and in my opinion, we lost all three of them, they didn’t beat us,” he said. “We’ve certainly got what it takes we just have to start believing in ourselves and what we’re out there to do, and we’ll be right.”

KFS Coach Brendon Houston said although the Queanbeyan Blues are a top side he was still feeling confident about Saturday’s match.

The Blues KFS went down to Goulburn City Bulldogs 12 – 16 who are another strong side in the competition.

“We’re going in there with confidence, but still going to respect them,” Brendon said. “They are a quality side, so we have to be on our best game, or they can put points on us as well.”

“Still confident but cautious… we still need to go in there and play to the best of our ability if we want to get the win.”

Brianna O’Rourke