An underwhelming defeat to Lithgow Workies the previous Sunday is now a distant memory, after Bathurst St Pat's claimed a come-from-behind win against Blayney Bears last weekend.
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Trailing 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-eighth 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.”
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.
- St Pat's coach Kurt Hancock
“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 Raki Tukeke, 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 didn’t 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 Behan and Shepherd, along with left winger Gunn.
He also lauded Reilly.
“I thought he played one of his best games in a couple of years,” he said.
Hancock said his side’s round nine clash with Orange Hawks could prove season-defining.
“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.
BATHURST ST PAT’S 48 (Joey Gunn 2, Chris Shepherd 2, Tyson Medlyn, Garry Reilly, Matt Ranse, Benjamin John, Harrison Jones tries; Reilly 6 goals) def BLAYNEY BEARS 24 (Ryan Oborn, Josh Rainbow, Raki Tukeke, Will Ingram, Lochie Hobby tries; Hobby 2 goals)
