If the Prince George Gnats proved one thing on Saturday, it's that they can play solid defence, especially against the defending league champions.
The Gnats surrendered only two tries against the visiting Williams Lake Rustlers in a 12-8 loss in a B.C. Rugby Union Central Interior Division league match at Kelly Road secondary.
"We played great defence and it was good to seal that up, now we just need to shore up our offensive game," said Gnats coach Derek Pue.
It was the Gnats' first loss of the season. They are now an even .500 with a 1-1 record. It was the Rustlers first win of the season and they improved to 1-1.
The Gnats opened the scoring around the five-minute mark of the first half with a 30-metre penalty kick off the boot of Matt Van Horne.
The Rustlers then went into offensive mode and finally, after waves of pressure deep in the Gnats zone, scored a try from the five-metre mark with two minutes left in the first half. The convert was good and they took a 7-3 lead into the second half.
Williams Lake scored its second try of the match in the corner early in the second half but missed the convert for a 12-3 lead.
Prince George didn't give up though and pressured the Rustlers defence with a series of offensive attacks of its own. Eventually, outside centre Justin Gerrard ran the ball across the line to score the Gnats' first try of the game with five minutes left to play and narrowed the Rustlers lead to 12-8. The attempted convert was not made.
Williams Lake threatened again to score and increase its lead, but time ran out on the clock.
"We knew it was going to be a hard game," said Pue. "It was tough. We talked a lot about character and how we were going to respond against a smarter and fitter team. We tried to play our game of going up the field and smashing forward. We can't doubt the effort - the heart and effort was there."
Saturday's game was the first of a home-and-home series between the two sides. The Gnats will travel to Williams Lake on Saturday afternoon for a rematch.
Pue said the message to the players at the team's two practices this week will be not to panic when they're under the gun and make smarter plays.
"When adversity comes up, we have to continue attacking forward and get ready to get the ball," said Pue. "We know it's going to be a tough game. Williams Lake plays hard-nosed rugby."
