THEY fought hard to the final whistle, but the under 14s St Pat's White outfit had their season come to an end at the hands of Bloomfield on Saturday as the Tigers won their semi-final 40-14.
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Last season as under 13s the Saints defied the odds to be crowned premiers and they were hopeful of making it a Group 10 Junior Rugby League title double with more success in 2020.
But minor premiers Bloomfield, led by inspirational lock Bailey Peschka, were too good in the grand final qualifier at Jack Arrow Oval.
Peschka had scored a hat-trick against Pat's White earlier in the season as the Tigers won their match 28-6 and in Saturday's semi-final he bagged another treble as well as kicking three conversions.
Two of them came in the opening half as Bloomfield shot out to a 24-4 lead, but his third was the most spectacular.
Peschka chipped ahead early in the tackle count, with one hand juggled then controlled the ball, he came within a boot lace of being forced into touch, but he then broke the tackle and ran away to score.
Though the Saints' season came to an end, they did have their highlights in the semi-final. Centre Zane Pringle scored a double while Hayden Selman won the sprint to a Branda grubber to score the Saints' other try.
Branda also booted a 40-20 in the final quarter and Kaedan Swann made big post-contact metres.
Bloomfield will meet Mudgee in the grand final after the Dragons crushed Orange CYMS 58-0.