GARRY Reilly didn’t have the best time in front of goal in the previous round but on Sunday against Group 10 premier league front-runners Orange CYMS he found the target when it mattered most.
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With his side down 18-16 and having just three minutes left on the clock, Pat’s drew level from the number six’s boot.
Saints winger Adam Morton then found space down the left flank and when he was brought to ground the CYMS defence were too slow in getting off their opponent, giving Pat’s the penalty and allowing Reilly a chance to deliver his side a special victory.
He made no mistake from the sideline.
His post-siren goal not only earned his side a confidence-building win going into finals but pushed the Saints up to finish second on the ladder.
“That was outstanding. The last two weeks we’ve had to do it the hard way. To defend and to keep turning up for each other was outstanding,” Saints coach Kurt Hancock said.
“We’ve got to get better and we’ve got to be committed to the cause now for three weeks. If we do that then we’ve got a football side that can be there for the last game of the year.”
Following a run of three CYMS goal line drop outs Travis Waninara finally gave Pat’s their opening points of the game when he crashed over from short range.
However, CYMS threatened to run away with the game as winger Todd Murphy found the line and centre Ryan Griffin found a quick-fire brace to take the score out to 14-6.
A try for Morton wrestled some momentum away from the visitors going into the break.
The hosts coughed up the ball in their own half early in the second term and Dom Maley punished Pat’s for it with his four-pointer.
Morton almost found his second try with a break down the left but CYMS fullback Ben McAlpine brought him into touch.
When Morton was given the opportunity to beat the fullback in a rematch just moments later he had too much of a head start, bringing the score back to 18-16.
McAlpine’s missed field goal attempt at 18-all invited the Saints back down the field and Reilly’s boot sealed a memorable result.
CYMS coach Mick Sullivan said there were good signs for his team.
“It was a good hit out. We lost Morts [Tim Mortimer, lock] early and we brought a few young kids in and they did very well,” he said.
“First half wasn’t too bad, we held them out for the first six sets … but there was a few too many errors and a bit of fatigue in the second half and they were a bit too good.”
