By RUSSELL BENNETT
A GRITTY performance by the Pakenham Silverbacks juniors in the first half of their final home game of the year against the Monash Warriors wasn’t enough to save them from a 38-6 defeat at Toomuc Reserve on Sunday.
After a kick-off return touchdown in the first half got the Silverbacks on the board in spectacular fashion, the Pakenham offense was pegged back from the outset in the third quarter.
With the defense also suddenly struggling to cover their opponents, the Warriors recorded two touchdowns, a safety and a two-point conversion to go up 22-6.
The visitors simply ran rings around the Silverbacks defense in the second half, dominating the third quarter in particular to secure a convincing win.
Despite the result, the atmosphere at Toomuc Reserve was once again fantastic – showing the obvious grassroots support of the sport in the area.
Pakenham is currently seventh on the Gridiron Victoria junior standings with two wins from its seven games so far.
The Silverbacks have a bye this week before a huge local derby in Week 9 against the Berwick Miners on Rawling Field at Sydney Pargeter Reserve in Endeavour Hills on Sunday, 30 November.
The game, starting at 3.30pm, will be the third in a triple-header and will be preceded by the Monash Warriors and Geelong Buccaneers juniors from 10am, and the Berwick Diamonds and Ballarat Kestrels women from 12.45pm.
