THE Blue Lake Knights bowed out of the 2017 Limestone Coast Rugby League season on Saturday, suffering a 30-10 semi-final loss to Warrnambool Raiders.
It was a somewhat tumultuous season for the Knights, struggling from the outset with player numbers and injury concerns, resulting in close losses in the home-and-away games.
Sitting bottom of the ladder with just one round to play, the Knights stood tall and accounted for the Horsham Panthers in a stunning 30-0 result to make the semi-final against the odds.
Club president Brenton Hodge said while it was disappointing not to make the grand final, he was proud of the players and their performance over the course of the season.
“Over the length of the season, with injuries and everything else, it has been a bit hard,” he said.
“But the boys really pulled together on the last day and had a red-hot go.
“They did not leave anything on the park, but unfortunately Warrnambool brought their A game.
“At half time it was two tries to one, but in the end they were just too strong.
“They got momentum, used it well and defended hard after they scored, so it was a credit to them.
“But I am very proud of our boys, their effort and endeavour.
“We scored a try late so we never gave up and gave it everything we had.”
In a sense the final position of the side was a reward for hard work, despite not making the ultimate game of the season.
Back in Round 1 the result was the same as the semi-final, with the Raiders kicking their season off with a 30-10 defeat of the Knights.
Captain Lloyd Pearce-Raisin and Chris Driver scored the first two tries of the season, with the pair instrumental in the remaining games.
Round 2 saw a tight result against the eventual minor premiers Naracoorte Jets, with the Knights going down by just six points.
Jak Ryan, Stuart Campbell and Will Trench ran home four tries for the game, but just one conversion – compared to four from the Jets – made the difference in the end.
However, it showed the Knights were up to the task, able to find the try line against some tough opposition.
Still chasing their first win in their first home game at Webb Street in Round 3, the Knights made short work of the Panthers, with a well-crafted 20-point victory in front of an impressive home crowd.
Conor Flanagan and Matthew Duncan joined Ryan, Trench, Campbell and Driver on the score sheet, with seven tries and an impressive five conversions from Nick Steen.
However, the next game saw the Knights succumb to the Raiders in a 26-12 result.
With injuries rearing their heads, the Knights were then mauled by the Jets the following week, with a four-point loss to the Panthers in Round 6.
That game saw Alex Sullivan and Peniel Kasole join the growing list of try scorers, with Steen converting three of the five tries.
By this stage the Knights were struggling to run games out after half time, with no bench to provide much-needed substitutions.
Despite that, they pushed the Raiders to the final whistle in Round 7, going down by just two points.
Jay Mariano and Jack Wright popped up with tries, along with Pearce-Raisin and Campbell, but again it was one converted try the difference at the end of the day.
With the season winding down, the bottom-placed Knights desperately needed a spark, with questions now being asked as to whether they were up to the task.
Those doubts were dispelled in Round 8, with an impressive 29-16 win over the ladder-leading Jets.
James Pratt added another name to the try-scoring list, along with Hodge, who pulled on his boots due to a lack of numbers, making the win even more sweet.
The result gave the Knights a sniff of a chance to make the finals, but with just one round remaining it was all on the line.
The Knights trailed the third-placed Panthers by a premiership point, with nothing short of a win required to play finals rugby.
And they left no doubt about their desire to continue on in the post-season, with the 30-0 result catapulting them to third place and a semi-final berth.
Having beaten the top side in Round 8 and lost to the Raiders by just two a week before that, the vibe around the club was buoyant heading into the semi-final clash.
While Donovan Wood added his name to the score sheet, a try from him and one from Wright, plus one conversion was not enough to overcome the rampaging Raiders, who ran home seven tries and converted six.
Throughout the season the defensive efforts of the players was also a highlight, with the intensity lifted from last season, helping to keep the Knights in the tough games, despite the lack of substitutions.
Hodge said his side focused on the team work and defensive play, with many involved in the tackling process to hold their opponents at bay.
Despite the Knights’ departure from the finals race, the season brought plenty of fans to the two home games at Apollo Soccer Club, providing entertainment in the Australian Rules dominated region.
For the club itself, it was certainly a good overall result, considering playing numbers and injuries.
Hodge said he expected to hold onto many players for next season and build on the solid foundation.
“Everyone is keen to come back,” he said.
“We want to build of what we have achieved this year, recruit some more players and hopefully have a better run with injuries.”
Hodge said the future growth would include juniors and women in the new year.
For now, the Limestone Coast Rugby League season continues, with the grand final at Naracoorte on Saturday.
The Jets will host the Raiders in what promises to be tough contest.
The game kicks off at 3pm.
