The Iluka Cossacks finally return to the playing fields after not playing for the past four weeks this weekend. They say “play rugby and see the world”, well in Iluka’s case, it’s see everywhere on the north coast except Iluka. Due to circumstances out of the Cossacks control, the Cossacks will play their next home game on June yes June 18 some eight weeks after our previous home game. Fortunately we have a band of staunch supporters who stick through the tough times and who the players will repay in truckloads when we play at home. This week we take on undefeated competition leaders Evans Head, who are the early favourites for the title. The Evans boys have come off a big win against Kyogle last week at Evans and will be looking to do the same this week. The Cossacks sent a couple of scouts to go and watch Evans play and they came away impressed but undaunted. Evans are a very well drilled side who have a low mistake rate and it will be a test of the Cossacks patience to not get flustered through these periods. On occasions, Evans were put under pressure and they didn’t respond very well. If the Cossacks get dragged into playing Evans style then we will get beat. The Cossacks have developed their own style this year of being the entertainers and our speed across the park will test most opposition sides this year. Training over the past three weeks has been lacking the competiveness to win games, so the boys are looking to go up a few gears this week. The exception here has been Rob Wake and Zac Newton who have been doing sprint training and are looking to force their way into permanent backline positions. The equation going forward is three away games, against Evans, Yamba and then up to mountain country Kyogle. This period will define how the season unfolds for the locals as we try to keep our unbeaten record intact. One step at a time and in what will be a torrid encounter, the Iluka boys will play to their usual pattern and overpower the opposition in the last ten minutes. See you all there at Evans this Saturday. Tony Wiseman