A sluggish first-half against The Armidale School on Saturday saw the Glen Innes Highlanders first division side suffer their first loss of the season.
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The Highlanders were down 5-1 at half-time before attempting a comeback in the second stanza with an improved performance.
TAS’s lead proved too tough to run down and they took the game 7-3.
“First division, we beat a team 24-2 a couple of weeks ago, had a week off and then came out and we were very flat in the first-half,” Highlanders president Rob Ferris said.
“We didn't play to our game plan, got caught out in the midfield and the backs. By the time the second-half came around we scored a couple of goals, played a lot better and kept TAS out but the game was over in the first-half.
“We had just as many scoring opportunities as they did but we couldn't finish them.
“Everything they [TAS] touched, they finished – they were just on fire, caught us napping more-or-less.”
Mick Maroney scored two goals while Jeffrey Miller hit one.
In second division, Glen Innes went down 2-1.
“Seconds should have won the game, they had a lot more chances then TAS but they just couldn't finish off,” Ferris said.
This Saturday the Highlanders head to Inverell to take on the ladder leaders.
The last time they faced each other in round two, the Highlanders came away with a 5-nil win but Ferris is expecting a tougher Inverell outfit this time round.
“It will be a tough game, we beat them pretty easy in the first round by they have improved out of sight since then,” he said.
“They actually beat TAS so it is going to be a tough game for us and we will have to be on our game.”
Ferris believes second division will have their work cut out for them.
“They are on top of the table in seconds, the Inverell side, so our seconds will have to really play well but I think they will struggle against that team,” he said.
“First division, we have to come out and play the way we have been playing in the first round.
“We are second on the ladder now so we have to maintain or improve it and keep winning from now on.”