Jamin Hodgkins and his Pacific Pride teammates suffered a heavy 45-14 defeat at the hands of James Bay AA at the Starlight Stadium, with the Pride's attempt to integrate returning players from the RAN Sevens tournament proving unsuccessful against the stronger Bays side.
The Pacific Pride entered the match at the bottom of the league, still searching for their first victory, but were unable to contain a clinical James Bay AA side. The Bays secured a convincing +31 win, with the final score standing at 45-14. The result strengthens James Bay AA's position in 6th place in the standings, keeping them well-placed for a potential playoff spot in the spring.
The Pride were boosted by the return of several players who had recently been on duty at the RAN Sevens tournament, including Jesse Kilgour and Taine Clague. Kilgour, who also played in the 2025 RAN Sevens, returned to the squad along with Ian Jones.
The team also saw young Simroy John earn a start at tighthead prop, and Noah Kyneston returned to the roster at hooker. However, even with the injection of these key players, the Pacific Pride could not bridge the gap against the Bays.
The focus for the Pacific Pride remains firmly on securing their first win and developing their young roster as the season progresses.
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