A SOLID performance on the weekend has signalled a first-rate season ahead for Darlington Point-Coleambally in the local Group 20 competition.

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While the Roosters were ousted in the first round of the West Wyalong Knockout, standout skills from new recruit Sam Dalby and returning local Nick Briggs gave the side a taste of what was to come this year.

The squad was downed by Southcity 22-10 on Friday night.

UK recruit Dalby scored a try in his first hit-out for the club, impressing his new teammates.

“Sam got his hands on the ball and showed us all what he was capable of,” captain Andrew Herbert said.

“He’s solid and fit and his work rate is unreal. 

“We’re very impressed with him at the club and he has really started to settle in.”

Jack Robb scored the Roosters second try and Drew Hopwood boosted the score with a goal.

Herbert believed the match had been DPCs for the taking but a few pieces of bad luck had held his side back.

Work commitments had prevented them from having a full-team training session in the lead-up to the knockout.

“We just didn’t have the best preparation – it has been hard with players’ work commitments – but everyone was feeling pretty good,” Herbert said.

“I’d like to play them again because we did have a few unlucky things happen and we let the game get away from us.

“Some were saying South City didn’t get out of second gear but I believe that’s because our defence put a lot of pressure on.”

The teams were level at half-time and Herbert said his boys had the upper hand for most of the second half.

Southcity pulled ahead with an intercept try, pouncing on the ball as DPC dropped it on a 60-metre run and booting it to within metres of the line.

“We definitely had them on the back foot but they put in a huge effort to run away with the game,” Herbert said.

The pre-season loss has not deterred the Roosters – they have big plans for the season ahead.

Briggs and Dalby are among a swag of high-quality players coming into the first-grade side and star player Dean Chauncy showed on Friday he is gearing up for a big year.

“If the weekend game is anything to go by, Dean is going to hit the right spot at the right time,” Herbert said.

“It’s obviously early days but we will start to build off the good start we’ve had and look to make our presence felt in the Group 20 knockout.

“It’s encouraging to have some good signs early – I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”