By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Pakenham Silverbacks got the perfect tune-up on Saturday for the Gridiron Victoria Division 2 playoffs, picking up a hard-fought 14-8 win in their final regular season game against the Gippsland Gladiators in Bendigo.
With the Silverbacks heading into the game without injured star quarterback Steven Mclean, Aaron Verbakel was handed the duty of controlling the offence.
Pakenham’s defence was solid early but an ill disciplined, lacklustre first half saw the Gladiators take a 6-0 lead into the long break with a Chevy Edwards pick being one of the few highlights for the Silverbacks.
But the boys from Pakenham came back out after half-time with a renewed sense of being and some real fire in their bellies – hitting back both on the field and on the scoreboard.
The Silverbacks’ defence produced some hard hits but the flags flew, slowing down the progress it had made.
Adam Kolinski powered his way to yet another touchdown, continuing his dominant season and a Verbakel QB keep on the point after saw the Silverbacks take the lead 8-6.
The defence kept piling on the pressure with Jack Lonie and Mutini Nhiliziyo really doing some damage.
With great field position on the back of good, pressure defence and some great running from Kolinski, Jason Howlett and Paul Ballinger, Verbakel faked the hand off and ran the ball beautifully for the second touchdown for the Silverbacks.
The two-point conversion was unsuccessful but Pakenham was up 14-8 and held on to record its sixth win of the season.
The Silverbacks finished their sophomore regular season with a 6-4 record – good for fourth in Division 2, behind the Northern Raiders on just head-to-head points differential.
The Gridiron Victoria Division 2 preliminary finals are set to take place at Sydney Pargeter Reserve in Endeavour Hills – on the Berwick Miners’ Rawling Field home surface – on Sunday 9 August beginning at 10.30am.
