United went down 17-0 to Kootingal on Saturday but it’ll take more than that to keep Grant down.

The United Hawks were already down on numbers on the day before injury and a send off in reserve grade’s 5-1 loss saw the side’s numbers dwindle even more.

Grant also didn’t want to see players made ineligible for reserve grade finals – which the Hawks are still in the hunt for – and playing certain players in first grade would do that.

Instead, the first grade side took to the field with eight and 15 minutes in were reduced to seven due to injury.

“Full credit to the club that they went on the pitch,” Grant said.

“I don’t think we gave a free kick away the whole game and Kooty were pretty good. By in large they laughed and joked with us without rubbing it in.

“We kicked off this year with what we had. We accept we don’t want to play local nine-a-side and we accept that people have other commitments but we roll on and still turn up.”

While Grant still had his sense of humour after the loss, he said it was disappointing.

“The disappointing aspect of it all, before the weekend we’d had two touch-ups – both to Quirindi 7-0 and 6-1 – but we’ve put up a pretty good fight all year,” Grant said.

“To fall over like that was disappointing for everyone involved in the club but we don’t expect that to happen again. Bottom line it’s not the end of the world.”

Gunnedah United have three home games in a row now.