Maccabi rebound with two wins
...the team's fortunes turned a corner in the last fortnight, when they welcomed back healed players into the match day squad and recorded their first two wins in 2023.
What a difference having a full reserves bench available can make.
A shocking injury toll had plagued Maccabi Rugby Club throughout the first eight rounds of the 2023 Subbies Jeffrey Cup season, depriving them of the opportunity to bring on fresh players in the second halves of their games.
Although their attack has been consistently good, tired bodies led to missed tackles and dropped balls.
But the team’s fortunes turned a corner in the last fortnight, when they welcomed back healed players into the match day squad and recorded their first two wins in 2023.
In round 9 on July 1 at Booralee Park, the Blues dug deep to outlast the Alexandria Dukes 29-26.
Although the Dukes were coming last, the win gave Maccabi much-needed confidence and their attack clicked, with two tries and two conversions to young outside centre Josh Segal and tries to veteran prop Josh Hoffman, speedy winger Jared Elbourne and substitute Danny Sassoon.
Then, in round 11 last Saturday, 10th-placed Maccabi upset the fifth-placed Kings in the Blues best performance of the year.
Maccabi won 37-21 in front of their home ground fans at Lyne Park and their much-improved defensive effort, for the full 80 minutes, was the key.
Hooker Brendan Pilman, locks Greg Ber and Alon Kopelowitz, and left flanker Josh Naiman all scored tries and Josh Segal was accurate with the boot, kicking four conversions and three penalty goals.
This Saturday, the Blues will aim to make it three wins in a row, when they travel to face eighth-placed Blacktown.
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