Rams coach says players can overcome poor start

Rockingham coach Peter Chidlow believes his side can still play finals football this season despite the Rams slipping to their fifth straight defeat in an eight-goal loss to Halls Head on Sunday.

Halls Head led the whole game, defeating the Rams 94-35.

Injuries and circumstance have prevented Rockingham from fielding its strongest side so far this year but Chidlow believes there is still time to turn things around.

"I'm confident the year is not done," he said.

"We've got up to 14 players that are available and have been training but for various reasons haven't played yet.

"If we can get our full squad onto the ground we can play some competitive football and could sneak into the finals. I think top five is do-able."

The Rams, depleted again at the weekend, hung tough with top-of-the-table Halls Head until half-time but fell away after the break.

"We had four guys who withdrew the morning of the game through injury or work and although that kind of thing is definitely not unique to our club it does have an effect," Chidlow said.

"We are a balanced side and we don't have a lot of high-profile players so every time someone pulls out it hurts a little bit."

Chidlow said he was impressed by the commitment and courage his team displayed, singling out veterans Dale Roberts, Peter McGennisken and Daniel Chidlow for setting the tone.

"You always get an honest performance from those three guys and I thought Andrew Walsh played his best game of the season out of the centre as well," he said.

"The biggest problem we have at the moment is our skill level.

"The commitment is there but our execution and skill could be better.

"Our kicking skills aren't that great and when we turn over the ball it's fatal.

"If the opposition turns it over it's a 50-50 as to whether we'll capitalise and score whereas when we turn it over we almost always concede a goal.

"The guys are learning and trying and I've definitely seen improvement. Even today with a depleted side we came within eight goals of a top side.

"It's encouraging and the season is definitely not lost for us."

We've got up to 14 players that are available and have been training but for various reasons haven't played yet." Peter Chidlow