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They won their season-opener by 27 points, but Newfoundland Rock co-coach Morgan Lovell still believes there’s work to be done before his team plays its second Eastern Canadian Super League rugby game next weekend.

“We were in control for the full game,” Lovell said the Rock’s 42-15 victory over the New Brunswick Black Spruce Saturday at the Swilers Rugby Pitch in St. John’s. “I don’t believe we were in trouble of losing the game at any point.

“But it certainly wasn’t as one-sided as the final score would suggest.”

The Rock play host to the Nova Scotia Keltics next Saturday at Swilers. After that game, the Rock hit the road for games in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia before the league’s championship weekend July 13-15 in Montreal.

I think we needed a little more composure on our offence and defence. But that’s probably a product of this being their first game.”

Rock co-coach Simon Lovell



The new circuit features six teams (Rock, Keltics and Black Spruce in the Atlantic Division, with Quebec, Eastern Ontario and Ontario’s Arrows Academy forming a Central Division).

Following completion of the Eastern Canadian league, rosters will be selected for the two regional Atlantic Rock and Ontario Blues squads to play in the four-team Canadian Rugby Championship beginning Aug. 4, when those teams clash in Montreal.

The defending champion B.C. Bears and Prairie Wolf Pack also compete in the CRC.

The Rock squad playing in the Eastern Canadian loop is an all-Newfoundland team, and Saturday’s game against the Black Spruce was the first of the season for many of the players (the remainder had played but one club game).

“I think we needed a little more composure on our offence and defence,” said Lovell, who is coaching the Rock along with Simon Blanks. “But that’s probably a product of this being their first game.

“There are certain aspects of the defensive organization we have to improve on.

“All that said, we’re still satisfied with the win.”

Next Saturday’s game against the Keltics is scheduled for 3 p.m.

robin.short@thetelegram.com