ST Pat's coach Kevin Grimshaw anticipated a tough match against Lithgow Workies and that's exactly what his side got in their Western Youth League match on Saturday.
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Ultimately the Saints emerged 20-16 victors from the clash at Tony Luchetti Sportsground to make it four wins from as many games in an 11-day period.
It puts them in a good position to finish on top of the eastern pool and advance to the eight-team finals series of the under 18s competition.
Though Grimshaw admitted the busy schedule of games did impact his squad, he also paid tribute to the efforts of the Wolves.
"It was a little bit of fatigue for my boys, you could see it when they were warming up, they were tired. It's not an excuse, but they were very tired," the coach said.
"We had the Stannies guys play at Dubbo on Friday and they didn't get home until 11 o'clock at night, there were four of them. So they've played five games in 11 days.
"But full credit to Lithgow too, they played very well I thought. They were in the hunt the whole game. they're not a very big side, but they're mobile and very willing."
Three days prior to the match at Lithgow, both teams had played under lights at Carrington Park.
While the Saints emerged with a 32-8 win over Orange CYMS, Grimshaw noted how Workies came from a 12-0 deficit to very nearly beat Bathurst Panthers.
The coach knew the match was not going to be easy, but thought that his side would be able to dominate the forwards battle. However, just as Workies' pack had done against Panthers, they muscled up well.
"I was nervous, I knew beforehand it was going to be tough. I sent them all a message on Friday night telling them they had to come ready to play, not thinking 'Oh well, it's Lithgow, they've only won one game, we'll beat them easy'," Grimshaw said
"I just had a feeling it was going to be a tough game because of the campaign we've had, we've been up for three really big games. I thought Panthers were going to be a threat, then I thought Hawks with all those Blayney kids were going to be a threat and CYMS too, so we spent a fair bit putting into those three games.
"It's not that I'd forgotten the Lithgow game, but that was the one at the end of it.
"I said to my blokes going into it 'Let's try and roll over the top of them in the middle' but they handled us. Their little blokes just worked their butts off for them and they'd also swing the ball wide, they liked moving the ball about.
"We did enough to win. My boys, they know how to win games, in close games they know how to get across the line. They've got a bit experience on their side."
Once again halfback Tyler Colley created plenty in attack while hooker Jack O'Neil was busy around the ruck and solid in defence. Prop Geordie Larkham was another to impress in the four-tries to three victory.
The Saints now have the round six bye before resuming with another local derby against Panthers.
"Now it just starts again sort of thing, but at least the games are a week apart and we can train again, we couldn't train for the last two weeks," Grimshaw said.
