The Griffith Black and White Panthers are hoping to continue their undefeated run at the Paul Kelly Memorial Pre-Season Knockout when the finals take place at EW Moore Oval on Saturday.
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Co-coach Andrew Lavaka wanted to use the knockout to launch into the new season.
“For sure, it’s a big stepping stone for our club,” Lavaka said.
“We’ve been unlucky the last couple of years and everyone is looking forward to the year.”
The Griffith outfit will take on the Yenda Blueheelers in the semi-finals while Yanco-Wamoon will clash with rivals Leeton.
The Black and Whites were one of two sides – along with Yanco-Wamoon – to go through the opening round without a loss.
The Black and Whites registered gritty two-point wins over Darlington Point-Coleambally and Tullibigeal-Lakes United last Saturday.
“I was pretty happy with the boys to get the two wins in our first hit-out,” Lavaka said.
“When we were down in both games we just spoke about working on crucial errors and mistakes but I was happy with the end result.”
Black and Whites went down to Yanco-Wamoon in last year’s knockout decider and Lavaka said ball control would be the deciding factor in the semi-finals.
“They’re only 20-minute halves so if you try and hold the ball and make less mistakes, you know you’ll go a long way to winning because the other team will be defending so much,” Lavaka said.
“That’s the key point to winning at knockout footy.”
Lavaka didn’t get a chance to watch any of the Blueheeler’s matches last weekend but was expecting another close game.
“They’ll be very good,” Lavaka said of Yenda.
“I’m pretty sure every team is pretty even and everyone’s signed pretty well.”
SEMI FINALS DRAW
To be played at EW Moore Oval, Griffith on March 25
- 2pm – Under 16s semi: Leeton v Yenda
- 2.40pm – Under 16s semi: Yanco-Wamoon v Waratahs
- 3.20pm – Under 18s semi: Yenda v TLU Sharks
- 4pm – Under 18s semi: Yanco-Wamoon v DPC
- 4.40pm – Seniors first semi: Black and Whites v Yenda
- 5.30pm – Seniors second semi: Yanco-Wamoon v Leeton
- 6.20pm – Under 16s final: winner of game one v winner of game two
- 7pm – Under 18s final: winner of game three v winner of game four
- 7.40pm – League tag final: Yenda v Black and Whites
- 8.30pm – Seniors final: winner of game one v winner of game six
ROUND ONE RESULTS
Played at Leeton No1 and No2 Ovals, March 18
Under 16s
- Waratahs 8 def Yenda 4
- Yanco Wamoon 20 def TLU Sharks 0
- Leeton 22 def Hay 0
- Yanco Wamoon 18 def Waratahs 10
- Leeton 18 def TLU Sharks 0
- Yenda 38 def Hay 10
Ladder
- Leeton
- Yanco-Wamoon
- Yenda
- Waratahs
Under 18s
- Yanco Wamoon 12 def DPC 0
- TLU Sharks (forfeit) 24 def Leeton 10
- Yanco Wamoon 18 def Black and Whites 10
- Yenda 34 def Leeton 0
- DPC 22 def Hay 0
- Yenda 32 def Black and Whites 0
- TLU Sharks 32 def Hay 0
Ladder
- Yenda
- Yanco-Wamoon
- TLU Sharks
- DPC
LEAGUE TAG
- Yenda 28 def Hay 12
- Leeton 44 def DPC 0
- Yenda 18 def Yanco Wamoon 0
- Black andWhites 26 def Leeton 4
- Hay 16 def Yanco Wamoon 10
- Black and Whites 42 def DPC 0
FIRST SEMI: Yenda 16 def Leeton 4
SECOND SEMI: Black and Whites 8 def Hay 0
FIRST GRADE
- Waratah Tigers 16 def Yenda 12
- Black and Whites 18 def D/Point Coly 16
- Yanco Wamoon 44 def Hay 0
- Leeton 32 def TLU Sharks 12
- Yenda 28 def Hay 6
- Black and Whites 14 def TLU Sharks 12
- Yanco Wamoon 16 def Waratah Tigers 12
- D/Point Coly 14 def Leeton 12
POOL 1 WINNERS: Black and Whites 1st, Leeton 2nd
POOL 2 WINNERS: Yanco Wamoon 1st, Yenda 2nd
