Yenda Blueheelers take out Group 20 knockout after win over Griffith Black and Whites

In the semi-finals the Black and Whites defeated Hay 36-6 in the first game of the day while the Blueheelers had a much tougher test and withstood a late charge from the Waratah Tigers to come away with a 12-10 win.

It was the win against Waratahs which according to co-coach Willie Lolohea gave the Blueheelers the belief they needed.

“It is incredible because we weren't actually supposed to be here,” he said.

“We were a late inclusion because Leeton forfeited so we were kind of second-guessing ourselves.

“We came up against Tahs today, and we proved that we are supposed to be here, and then we went all the way took it out.”

The Black and Whites came out strong and we able to cross through Ziggy Vincent after he was able to barge his way across the line.

It was back-to-back tries as Tomonki Poka scored in the corner before Jack Glyde made the most of a mistake at the back by the Panthers to see Yenda go into halftime with an 8-6 lead.

After the sides traded blows early in the second half, Stephan Broome looked to extend his sides lead to three points with a field goal from 10 metres out.

The game was finally put to bed with less than five minutes remaining as Floyd Faauesi was able to score after the Blueheelers took advantage of numbers out wide to score in the corner to give Yenda the 15-6 win.

Yenda now prepares for their trip to Leeton for the opening round of the Group 20 season, and Lolohea is happy with how his side is progressing.

“We are looking pretty good, and we are still building surprisingly at the moment,” he said.

“We had a few ressies players step up, but it goes to show the amount of talent that we have and the depth that we have to cover positions.

“We all just wanted to put in as much as we were getting out.”