CELEBRATIONS were still running well into Monday at the Bemboka Hotel after the Candelo-Bemboka Panthers won the premiership in emphatic style.
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The Group 16 reserve grade premiership win was no small feat, the Panthers worked their way back from a 20-4 deficit to claim the crown 30-24.
Head coach Matt Inskip said he spoke to the squad at half-time about putting on a show for fans, but couldn’t anticipate what happened next.
“I mostly said to the lads that I wanted them to put on a show and do themselves justice,” Inskip said.
After the break, the Panthers went on the offensive and began making solid metres.
It wasn’t long before the squad scored a try, which frustrated the Eden roster.
Soon after another try bolstered the Panthers’ spirits before Eden could claim one back of their own.
However, the mounting try line pressure saw errors prove costly to Eden.
Repeated offside and head-high calls saw them penalised right up to their own defensive 20, where the Panthers lifted once more.
Another try had the club back in striking range.
From the restart Eden again was giving away penalties, a shoulder charge resulting in a player sent from the field.
The Panthers punished them again with a penalty goal to level the odds 24-24.
A thunderous rumble of cheering began echoing out from the sea of teal supporters in the stands and the Panthers.
Inskip said the squad lifted with each cheer.
“We have been talking about it all night how loud the crowd was.
“The louder they got, the harder we went,” he said.
Another Eden player was sent from the field and the Panthers sealed the deal with a final try.
The conversion slotted between the posts and then the squad defended the final minutes of the game to win 30-24.