BLACKWATER Basilisks back Antony Darlison will have surgery tomorrow for the broken eye socket and cheek bone he suffered in last week’s trial game against Rolleston.
“I went in for a tackle across the front of the guy, and got a knee straight to the cheek,” Darlison said.
“All my left side of my face went numb.”
Darlison was disappointed to be ruled out on the eve of the season.
“This is my first year of union,” he said.
“I was really keen to have a good run.”
But he said the Basilisks would not have too much trouble covering his loss.
“They’ve got some good players there,” he said.
“They should be fine; they’ve got a lot of young players.”
Darlison is hopeful of returning to the field before the end of the season.
“Hopefully I’ll be back playing this year,” Darlison said.
“I’m pretty keen to get back out there.”
He will focus on cardiovascular work while recovering to maintain his fitness for his return.

Blackwater Herald, 22 April 2014