Two defeats but hope not lost for Steelers

Two heavy losses to open their 2020 Quad Nations Wheelchair Rugby campaign haven’t derailed the Australian Steelers’ chances of victory according to Head Coach Brad Dubberley.

The Steelers were hammered 54-42 by the United States and 58-46 by Great Britain overnight in Leicester, England, but Dubberley still took plenty of positives away from the two defeats.

The three-team tournament consists of a double-round robin, meaning that even the Steelers lose all four qualifying matches, they still play the semi-final for a chance to progress to the gold medal match against the top-qualifer.

The freedom to not worry about results in the qualifying rounds has given Dubberley the chance to give major minutes to his inexperienced players against two of the world’s best team and that is exactly what he has done.

He said for players rising stars including Jake Howe, Shae Graham and Richard Voris, the experience they have already gained at this tournament has been invaluable.

“It’s disappointing to lose like we did, I’m not going to hide that. But for the most part, we’re progressing,” Dubberley said.

“We definitely achieved our goal in terms of giving everyone some good court time in both games.”

The two clashes were the first international appearances for the Steelers since the World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge in Tokyo last October.

Currently the Australian off-season, Dubberley said four months without an elite level contest against two opponents currently in their middle of their domestic seasons was also a telling factor overnight.

“Game fitness was a bit rusty for sure,” Dubberley said.

“Everyone is physically fit but because we have played an international tournament for a while, we were lacking some sharpness. But that will come back soon enough. We just have to hang in there.”

Action continues overnight (Australian team) when the Steelers attempt to bounce back against the United States (10pm) in Andrew Harrison’s 200th appearance for Australian before taking on Great Britain at 2am).

The Quad Nations is contested at the Morningside Arena in Leicester from February 21 to 24 (AEDST).

By Tim Mannion, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 22/02/20

The Australian Steelers – managed by Paralympics Australia

* Female players receive a 0.5 point advantage.

Fixtures for the Australian Steelers 

2020 Quad Nations – Leicester, England

(note: times are Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time):

Fri 21 Feb

AUS 42 defeated by USA 54

Sat 22 Feb

AUS 46 defeated Great Britain 58

22:00pm AUS vs Team USA

Sun 23 Feb

02:00am AUS vs Great Britain

22:00pm Semi-Final (2^nd v 3^rd)

Mon 24 Oct

02:00am Gold Medal Match (1^st vs Semi-Final winner)