AN UNDERWHELMING defeat to Lithgow Workies the previous Sunday is now a distant memory, after St Pat's claimed a come-from-behind win against Blayney Bears on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Trialing 18-10 at half-time against the winless Bears, St Pat's came out a different side in the second-half to claim their second win of the 2017 Group 10 premier league season.
St Pat's heaped on 38 second-half points, including 14 from five-eight Garry Reilly, to claim a comprehensive 48-24 win against the visitors on Sunday at the Bathurst Sportsground.
Whatever St Pat's coach Kurt Hancock said at half-time, it worked.
“I did something different in the sheds, I won’t say what, but it did work,” he said.
“They [St Pat's] just started to anticipate a bit more with pushing up and supporting and actually anticipating the play. They started to play a bit of footy rather then sitting back on their heels and letting the game unfold.
“We took control by actually attacking the game, rather then playing defensive.”
It’s a massive win, with the state the club is in, injury-wise.
- St Pat's coach Kurt Hancock
While Hancock acknowledged that the Bears have struggled this season, he said it was a massive win considering the players absent for St Pat's on the day.
“It’s a massive win, with the state the club is in, injury-wise. We had close to eight first graders out,” he said.
“Blayney played really well in the first-half. I’m probably guessing that was their best half of the year and we were sort of off the pace with our D. Once we tidy that up, they only score six points in the second-half.
Blayney started the stronger of the two teams, as second rower Will Ingram crashed over early to give the Bears an earlier 4-0 lead.
After some missed opportunities for St Pat's, Chris Shepherd streaked away to give the host a 6-4 lead.
But quick tries to Rakas Tuheke, Lochie Hobby and Harrison Jones gave the visitors a shock 18-10 half-time lead.
However, it did not last long. Tyson Medlyn and Matt Ranse both scored within the first 10 minutes of the restart and St Pat's led 22-18.
Benjamin John skipped around four players to score near the post, just near the hour mark, and St Pat's were winning comfortably at 28-18.
A Ryan Oborn consolation try did not sour the mood for St Pat's, with Shepherd bagging a second try, alongside a Joey Gunn double and one for Reilly.
Hancock praised the efforts of prop forward Greg Beman and Shepherd, alongside left-side winger Gunn.
He also heaped the recognition on Garry Reilly.
“I thought he played one of his best games in a couple of years,” he said.
With Orange Hawks coming up this weekend, in what is a very winnable game, the match could prove season defining for St Pat’s.
“That’s what I keep trying to remind the boys. We’re just trying to remain positive but it is good to see the depth we used, to come and play pretty well,” Hancock said.
St Pat’s are up to seventh on the ladder, leapfrogging Lithgow Workies.
It will be quite a challenge for Blayney next weekend against Orange CYMS, considering their opponents are undefeated and coming off a comprehensive 84-8 win against Lithgow.
St Pat’s won all other grades on the day – 52-6 in first division, 24-18 in under 18s and 10-4 in league tag.