Pirates help steer region to success
After a highly successful weekend of rugby with the Albany Sea Dragons Rugby League and Sporting Club playing host to the West Coast Pirates, more metropolitan clubs are expected to visit the region.
The West Coast Pirates played two academy games against the South West Dolphins, who were under the Sea Dragons banner, while a couple of 9s games were also played.
Adding to the trip, the Pirates ran some refereeing and coaching courses to help grow the game, which is beginning to rise with the foundation of the Sea Dragons.
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READ NOWNRL WA operations manager Tony Crowe was full of praise for the Pirates’ visit and said more Perth clubs had already enquired about coming to Albany.
“It was outstanding — it really was the whole weekend,” Crowe said.
“I don’t think WA does the intrastate, regional stuff really well and lots of sports are so Perth centric.
“What’s happening in Albany at the moment with the Sea Dragons is just huge — the level of interest in the game in Albany is through the roof.
“We are looking to provide the Sea Dragons with more opportunities; they want to play more games, so we’ll look at getting them up here and I’ve already had other Perth teams get in touch about coming down to Albany and repaying them.”
The Pirates won their clash with the Dolphins under lights on Friday, 36-18, and Crowe said the games — involving a host of local players — showed rugby could be supported in Albany.
“We had registrations coming in after the games,” he said. “People used Friday night to see a different sport and as a social event as well.
“From a pathways and development point of view, we couldn’t achieve any more. The (Pirates) players visited the Anzac centre and did a lot of sightseeing. We are going to lock in the same trip and the same dates for next year.”
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