TAREE’S Group Three Rugby League roster took another hit this week when promising utility back Dean Mills injured his ankle at training.
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The Bulls have already lost hooker/halfback Mick Henry (knee) and centre Aaron Bailey (ankle) for the season. Now coach Gary Bridge fears Mills could also face an extended stay on the sidelines.
“It didn’t look too good,’’ Bridge said.
Bridge said the club’s training staff worked on the ankle and the teenage fullback/five-eighth was heading to have scans later in the week.
“I haven’t heard from Dean yet but I wouldn’t think he’d be playing this week,’’ the coach said.
Mills is in his debut year of first grade and he has impressed with his work-rate and enthusiasm so far. Mills was replaced early in the win over Macleay last week after breaking his nose.
However, there is some better news for the Bulls with another teenager, centre Shannon Mullay, training strongly this week. Mullay, who is still eligible for under 18s, had been troubled by a hamstring strain.
The Bulls take on Old Bar Pirates tomorrow for the third time this year. Taree go into the game fresh from a big 58-22 win over Macleay Valley last week. The Bulls will have all players back on deck, including hooker Luke Murray, who was a late withdrawal against the Mustangs. Bridge was tight-lipped as to the makeup of his squad.
“I don’t think I’ll be making any changes,’’ he said, refusing to either confirm or deny that Matt Everitt will stay at hooker, the position he played against the Mustangs.
Bridge said it is imperative Taree gets on a roll and chalks up a few wins.
“We’ve only had back-to-back wins once this year,’’ he said.
The Bulls have also been on the road for the past month, with games at Wingham, Port Macquarie, Kempsey and now Old Bar. Taree returns home next Sunday against Wauchope.
From these matches the Bulls have beaten Macleay but lost to the competition heavyweights, Wingham and Port Macquarie.
The Bulls currently sit in fourth place, just one point behind third placed Port City. Taree has yet to play the Breakers this year.
There’ll only be one other Group Three game this weekend, with Wauchope to host Macleay Valley on Sunday.
Both sides go into the clash after losses last weekend, the Blues to Port City in a thriller while an understrength Macleay Valley went down heavily to Taree City.
The Mustangs currently sit on 14 points with Forster-Tuncurry, two adrift of Taree City.
Wauchope has 10 points after eight matches in the competition proper.
The Port Macquarie/Port City local derby has been deferred until Sunday July 9 because the Regional Stadium at Port Macquarie is unavailable.
Port Sharks will welcome a spare weekend after suffering some injury problems in the clash against Wingham last match. This included captain-coach Joe Cudmore, who was concussed 21 minutes into the first half and took no further part in the game.
Port’s woes continued when former North Coast representative fullback Harley Gore injured his Achilles tendon just before the break.
Gore only returned from a broken hand in Port’s win over Taree City the previous week. Port City have also had their share of injury problems this year.