PLAYING rugby league under lights - when a group of Saints did so on Friday night at Jack Arrow Oval the occasion certainly brought out their best with line breaks, brilliant cover defence, strong fends and even goosesteps.
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That it came from two Group 10 Junior Rugby League under 9s teams - St Pat's Blue and St Pat's White - made it even more entertaining.
"There are some very handy little footballers in there, it's very good for the future of our club," St Pat's junior president Tony England said.
As under 9s, the Saints play using the mini rules. But while most knock-ons were forgiven and no scores recorded given it is a non-competitive age-group, the junior Saints played with plenty of in intensity.
"This is their last year in the minis then they go to a more full-sized field, so it's a big step up for them after this year," England said.
"They know the rules, they know what they are doing. There may be no scores, but they definitely know which way the game is going.
"They just absolutely love it, there is a bit of banter between the teams and all that sort of stuff to see who is going to win and who will do better on the day."
While the Blue and White sides were initially drawn to play their match in Lithgow on Saturday, St Pat's officials decided to do something different by moving it to a Friday evening time slot.
It was the first time the club had staged a minis - which run from under 6s through to under 9s - match under lights.
England said it was a way to help make amends for some of the frustration both players and parents have dealt with in the COVID-19 impacted season.
"This is something different for our under nines to come and play under lights, there are more senior teams, our 16s, who have never done that," he said.
"I don't think that I've every played night football, so they've got one up on me, it's just fantastic.
"For under nines teams to get to do this was something different. We've never had the juniors come and play under lights before, COVID was such a bad thing that we just tried to do something a little different, something out of the ordinary for the kids.
"There are a lot of smiles out there telling us that this is a good thing. It's also nice for the parents to come and watch them and enjoy the experience with the kids."
This coming weekend the minis from St Pat's, as well as those from fellow Bathurst clubs Eglinton and Panthers, will be in action at Wallerawang.