THE Blue Lake Knights are celebrating after a rousing 29-16 victory over the Naracoorte Jets in the Limestone Coast Rugby League first grade season.
The Knights travelled to Warrnambool to face the top-placed Jets on Saturday, with their season on the line.
A loss would see no chance of making the finals, while a win set up a last-round hit-out with third-placed Horsham Panthers, who now sit just one point ahead of the Knights.
That was how it would pan out, with limited numbers on the roster, but a determination to succeed.
Trailing the Jets at half time, the Knights never dropped their heads, but simply lifted, running in five tries for the game, converting four of those and sneaking a field goal in for good measure.
In contrast to recent games where the Knights have struggled after half time due to injury worries, Saturday saw a turnaround and resulted in an unexpected victory.
Knights president Brenton Hodge – who also pulled on his boots due to a lack of numbers – said it was an amazing victory for the club.
“The boys played with just amazing team work and camaraderie,” Hodge said.
“We brought our A Game and really just played for each other.
“The support running was awesome, the movement from hand was just excellent and the boys just ran hard.
“It was a surreal game to play in.”
The Knights kicked off proceedings with the first try of the game, but were soon on the back foot, with the Jets then running two in to take the lead.
At the half time break the margin was four points in favour of the Jets, but rather than run out of steam as has been the case this season, the Knights found something extra and pushed on, scoring from the kick-off and going on from there.
Hodge said in rugby league both defence and offense had to be switched on, which was a feature of the victory.
“In defence, the boys’ tackling was just on point and with absolute courage,” he said.
“We had a minimum of three people in a tackle and were still able to get back to the line to go again.
“When we ran in attack we did it with so much conviction and with support.
“The team just pulled together to help each other.”
Hodge said at half time captain Lloyd Pearce-Raisin rallied his troops, spoke about sticking together, with the four-point deficit nothing in the game of rugby league.
Pearce-Raisin then went and led by example – despite not scoring a try himself – setting up the play from his charges and running the game out hard.
In the end it was the unthinkable victory, a huge result for the club.
But it came in even more surreal circumstances, with Hodge looking to forfeit before the game, with a lack of numbers and other situations conspiring to make life all-but impossible for the travelling Knights.
“We were driving to Warrnambool not knowing if we had a side,” Hodge said.
“People travel from everywhere to play with us.
“We had one from Ballarat, another from Harrow, three from Casterton – and one of those got left behind – we also had one car break down.
“All the dots had to line up and they did.
“We hit the park and went out and got it done.”
Hodge said now the club will regroup ready for the most important game of this season so far.
The Knights will face the Panthers this weekend at Naracoorte for the chance to snare a grand final berth.
They trail the Panthers by just one premiership point, with the final result simple – a win puts them into the semi-final and chance to push deep into the finals series, while a loss sees the season over.
“Horsham did not like their loss on the weekend and they are a really good quality side, so we are not taking anything for granted this weekend,” Hodge said.
“We have a renewed vigour and excitement about it, but it is back to focus on doing things right again.
“We will take the conviction from against the Jets, bring it to the last game of the season and hopefully that will put us in the finals.”
Tries for the Knights were scored by James Pratt (two), Conor Flanagan, Hodge and Peniel Kasole, while Jay Mariano converted four tries and Pratt contributed a field goal late in the game.
