Yanco-Wamoon were able to fight back from a 16-point deficit to score the match-winning try with just over six minutes remaining to take a 30-26 win over Black and Whites at EW Moore Oval on Sunday afternoon.
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The Panthers were able to open the scoring in the fifth minute with Mosese Butukoro getting over the line with the Hawks answering 10 minutes later with a try to Jone Tabaiwalu.
The Black and Whites were able to kick it up a gear as Glen Buerckner, Andrew Lavaka and Kane Simpson getting over the line to see the home side race out to a 20-4 lead.
Yanco found their footing late in the first half and were able to reduce the gap to six points with Kane Hammond and Tabaiwalu getting across the line before the break.
After a grinding start to the second half, Lavaka was able to score his second of the match to get Black and Whites out to a 10-point lead however the Hawks refused to lay down with Soqoni Saurara and Shannon Bradbrook finding the tryline to reduce the margin to two points with 11 minutes remaining.
Yanco co-coach Troy Preston was able to step up when needed and got the match-winning try for the Hawks with six minutes remaining in the game.
Preston said he couldn't be prouder of the way his side performed.
"We had a lot of players out from injuries, so we only had two on the bench for the whole game, so it was a massive effort," he said.
"Everyone pushed to come away with a win today."
After a tough start to the second half to see the opposition score first, Preston was pleased to see the work rate of his players matched what was needed to get them across the line.
"I thought it was a good grind. They were right in it, we were right in it, then they scored a try, and I thought we were going to drop our heads," he said.
"But to our boy's credit, we came out of it and started putting points on the board.
"We knew Black and Whites were going to come out pretty tough after the break but they are a good quality side, we knew we had to match them, but if we just kept it with them, we knew we would eventually come out on top."
Unfortunately for the Hawks, the casualty ward continues to grow, but Preston hoped the knocks picked up on Sunday wouldn't be too serious.
"It seems to be the same thing every week," he said.
"We don't want to, but hopefully they treat it well, rest up, and hopefully it's nothing major."
The Hawks will now prepare to return home and face Yenda next weekend while the Black and Whites face the long trip out to Lake Cargelligo to take on the Sharks.