After a third place finish in the National Trophy and a quarter final place secured, Worthing Thunder’s Vinnie Darpino is now looking to next weekend’s double header away at Bradford and Bristol as a pivotal part of the season.
Darpino, who joined the Club, last month, has settled into the fold here in Worthing, as they begin their League campaign away to Bradford Dragons. Thunder then have to travel to the south-west, as they face Bristol Academy Flyers in the third round of the National Cup.
"Having the opportunity to be part of the Thunder is great,” Darpino said. “We have a good team, organisation, and fan support. I look forward to the season as it unfolds with winning games and playing well.”
Darpino continued: "We are heading into this weekend with high expectations. Bradford is our first league game and it is important to start league play off on a good note. Bristol being a cup game means to advance it is a must win and we want to win the cup."
Over the weekend, Worthing will roughly be traveling around 638 miles for these two games, but Darpino insists that it is no big deal: “We are professionals and regardless of the distance of travel, we must bring it each and every game,” he commented. “With some hard work and effort we should put ourselves in position to have a successful weekend.”
Thunder captain James Brame is likewise not thinking too much about the travel, and just focusing on the task at hand, but the Thunder veteran knows that it isn’t going to be easy.
“We have a tough test ahead of us this weekend facing two good teams on the road,” Brame said.
“We need to redeem ourselves and get back to winning ways and we have to focus on the little things like boxing out, playing team defence and moving the ball offensively, we just need to get back to basics and fight for a pair of road wins.”
Worthing tip-off their season in Bradford with an unusual 6.15pm start on Saturday night.
