HANWOOD coach Anthony Agresta believes the week off will do his side "the world of good" after they secured the Pascoe Cup minor premiership with a 7-3 win over Tumut at Rawlings Park on Sunday.
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Entering the match level on points with Lake Albert and Henwood Park but with a superior goal difference, Hanwood only needed to beat the eighth-placed Eagles to secure the top seed.
The job looked done at 5-1 early in the second half before two quick penalty strikes from Tumut gave them some hope at 5-3.
But a brilliant long range strike from Michael Cimador, who finished with a brace, calmed the nerves for the Griffith side, with Nick Kennedy also bagging a brace.
It was a strong bounce back by Hanwood after they were beaten 1-0 by Leeton in last week's local derby.
They will play the winner of the qualifying final between Henwood Park and Lake Albert in week two of finals in Wagga.
Agresta said racking up a few goals was the confidence booster his marksmen needed before things get serious.
"That's something we haven't done very well of late is scoring goals," he said.
"Nick has been working pretty hard and things haven't quite been coming off for him, but today will hold him in good stead and hopefully we can kick on from here.
"I was worried about today because we were short on numbers, but we got the job done and I think the week off will do us the world of good.
"There's a few niggles there, for the older boys it will help and hopefully we hit the ground running in two weeks' time."
Agresta said they will take a moment to reflect on the achievement of claiming the premiership, but said their main focus is putting a stamp on finals.
"I think you've got to a bit, it's a pretty good achievement to finish on top. You've got to celebrate it, but not get too carried away," he said.
"I think it's pretty open and any of the five teams that got in can win it."
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