RUGBY UNION: The Roma Echidnas demolished the Highfields Redbacks in the first round of the Risdon Cup at the weekend.

The four-hour bus trip east to Highfields Sports Park on Saturday proved no difficulty for the Echidnas, beating the Redbacks 40-8.

It was the first time the Echidnas played with a 15-a-side team in 2019 but captain Matthew Wilkie said they played well.

"We had some form in the Roma 7s and the Rugby League 9s but, considering we didn't have a chance to have a hit-out with 15 before Round One, we did well to get the win,” he said.

In the first half, the Echidnas put 28 unanswered points on the scoreboard, leaving the Redbacks tangled in their own web.

"The first half we were just playing with things in front of us, we were feeling that our broken play was pretty much on point,” Wilkie said.

"We were moving the ball very quickly after they turned the ball over and we were making sharp decisions.

"And we definitely got a roll on in the last 20 minutes of the half, just playing smart football.”

In the second half, the Redbacks managed to put five points on the board but it was not enough as the Echidnas were not finished.

"The Redbacks had a bit of momentum in the second half, coming at us hard,” Wilkie said.

"Once we changed a few players over that's when they started to punch some holes into our defence.

"But considering our fitness levels, we didn't do too badly keeping them to just one try and that was in the corner too, they had to work for it.”

Wilkie said both the backs and the forward put in a strong 90 minutes of good football.

"Stand-out players were Nicholas Cook with two tires, Regan Tucker and Dan Sutherland.”

The Echidnas will hit the road again for Round 2 against Condamine this Saturday.

Scoring Summary:

Tries

Nicholas Cook (21'), Jack Dearden (23'), Liam Walker (34'), Nicholas Cook (40'), Regan Tucker (62',77').

Penalty Tries

Nil

Conversions

Liam Walker (1), Regan Tucker (4)

Penalties

Nil

Drop Goals

Nil