MOUNT Gambier’s Blue Lake Knights pulled off a stunning 30-0 win over Horsham Panthers on the weekend to advance to the semi-final of the 2017 Limestone Coast Rugby League first grade season.
The Knights had it all ahead of them after a tough season that was dominated by injury and low player numbers, but the last two weeks of the minor round saw a hard-fought victory over the top-placed Naracoorte Jets, before a big win on Saturday at Naracoorte.
The Knights ran in six tries, with three conversions to advance to the post-season in style.
James Pratt topped the score sheets with two tries, while Jay Mariano ensured plenty of scoreboard pressure with the three conversions.
Matthew Duncan, Peniel Kasole, Jack Wright and Gerard Whennan also contributed tries in a dominant effort.
A solid opening half set up the victory, with the Knights in form from the kick off.
Solid running and well-delivered passes saw the Knights reach the try line, despite plenty of defensive pressure from the Panthers.
Horsham was unlucky not to bother the scorers, with the Knights’ defence under pressure on the line.
In the end it was an all-round team effort that showed ominous form heading into the semi-final clash this week against the Warrnambool Raiders.
Club president Brenton Hodge was ecstatic with the victory.
“I am really proud of the boys,” he said.
“We got a win earlier in the season but not much since.”
Hodge said the success of the side this season was due in no small part to coach Todd Lilecrapp, who had developed a raw squad of Australian Rules football players into a team now chasing a grand final berth.
“Todd has been working with the team to develop a plan,” Hodge said.
“He has been working with a system and asking things of each player specifically – they are from an AFL background, coming in and learning a different sport, so there has been a steep learning curve, especially near the end where we had to start getting a few things right.
“It has been an awesome journey to watch.”
To make the semi-final is a big feat in itself, considering the injury woes that faced the side this season, but when it mattered most, the Knights stepped up to the plate, defeating the Jets last week to give themselves a sniff of a chance, then producing an almost flawless performance on Saturday to reach the semi-final.
Hodge said leading up the weekend trainings were positive, focused mainly around confidence and teamwork, supporting each other and simply doing the basics right.
“We did not delve into it too much and put pressure on ourselves,” he said.
“We spoke about how each week we have been gradually improving and how things came together pretty well last week.
“We just needed to make sure we did not go backwards and we actually went a step further and made sure of it.”
While the result came on the back of some solid runs through the middle, much also depended on defensive pressure, with the Panthers not giving up the game lightly, pushing right to the line but unable to penetrate for a try.
“Horsham had three full sets in a row where they came at us hard,” Hodge said.
“We just defended like a wall … it was awesome.
“They were pushing hard and if they scored a couple of tries, it could have change the whole dimension of the game.”
Hodge said another highlight was an impressive conversion by Mariano.
“He had a couple of kicks from in front, but had one conversion shot from the side line against the wind,” he said.
“It was a great kick which gave him a lot of confidence.”
With the minor rounds now done Hodge said he was confident the side could go deeper into the post-season, with a grand final berth against the Jets up for grabs this weekend.
But first they have to beat the Raiders, which will be no easy task.
Just like the Knights, the Raiders have also defeated the Jets this season, showing some classy rugby to finish in second place on the ladder.
But there is just one more chance to go, with the semi-final to be played at Horsham.
This week’s winner moves on to the grand final, while for the loser the season is done.
“I absolutely back ourselves to do it this week,” Hodge said.
“We have had some players out over the last few weeks who have come back, so we will travel as a near-full squad and will be hungry to win.
“Warrnambool is a great side.
“They play a good style of rugby league and there is nothing easy about what is coming, but our boys have come together at the right time of the year.”
