West Wyalong Knockout Runners Up To Learn From Loss

Young Cherrypickers were the only thing between Wagga Kangaroos and a West Wyalong Knockout win on Saturday evening as they went down 10-0 in the final.

Captain-coach Nathan Rose said the side did their best to focus on their own game and not their opponents throughout the competition, knocking out Gungahlin, West Wyalong, and Tuggeranong on their way to the final.

"The first night it was good to get the win first and foremost, but as a new squad we were a little bit rusty in some patches, but we progressed pretty good over the tournament," Rose said.

After receiving a forfeit earlier in the day Tuggeranong got a free ride into the semi-finals, but Rose said facing a team with fresh legs didn't deter his side.

"Sometimes not playing footy does hurt you and sometimes it helps you playing, but we were more worried about ourselves," he said.

"We just had to win, and we were lucky enough to get that win."

Facing a Group Nine club in the final didn't phase the veteran, who said he felt no more pressure going against Young than he would have a Group 20 side.

"It doesn't matter if you're playing a Canberra team or a Group 20 team, obviously both teams are playing in the grand final for a reason," he said.

Disappointed in the loss, Rose is still proud of the efforts from his squad and feels the final score doesn't reflect the game played.

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