TOUGH NIGHT: Brothers prepare for their clash with Shellharbour at the West Wyalong Knockout on Friday night. Picture: Wagga Brothers

Group Nine clubs struggled to make an impact early on the opening night of the West Wyalong Knockout at Ron Crowe Oval.

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Temora, Kangaroos and Junee were all eliminated in the opening round with Young holding the fort early with a 12-4 win over Sydney opponent Moore Park.

Southcity impressed later in the night with a 28-0 thrashing of Group 10 heavyweight Bathurst Panthers, before Brothers went down 16-0 to Shellharbour.

Temora went down 4-0 to Group 20 club Tullibigeal Lakes United, while Kangaroos went down 18-6 to highly-fancied Group 10 club Oberon Tigers.

Hosts, West Wyalong, also progressed through to the second night with a 28-0 thrashing of Cobar.

Young captain-coach James Woolford could not have been happier with his team in their brief opening night appearance.

“The boys went well, I was very pleased for their first hit-out,” Woolford said.

“I was really pleased with a few of the new boys, they slotted in really well and the boys that played with us before picked up where they left off last year.”

The Cherrypickers wore black armbands in a tribute to the tragic loss of Nic Dewar on Thursday night. They will wear them again on Saturday.

Star recruit Bobby Roberts scored in his first appearance for the Cherrypickers, while Lachie Jackson also crossed for Young.

Oberon, featuring 2012 Weissel Medallist Ben McAlpine, lived up to the early hype surrounding their 2018 squad with an impressive performance against Kangaroos.