The Vernon Panthers will head into the B.C. Senior AA Boys Rugby Championships at the No. 12 seed Saturday in Kelowna.
The Cats outlasted the Kalamalka Lakers 7-5 in a defensive Okanagan Valley qualifier Thursday afternoon at Kal field.
In the first half, VSS held the territorial upper-hand, which eventually resulted in a well-earned try by Ryan Macleod under the posts which was converted by Thomas Mills.
Kal came out with renewed energy in the second half and pressured the Panther defence. In the final minute, the Lakers finally stretched over for a try by Derek Huisken in the corner, but the conversion narrowly missed, allowing VSS a big sigh of relief.
The Panthers open provincials against the No. 5 Hugh McRoberts Strikers of Richmond, 1 p.m. at Parkinson Rec Centre.
Later that day, the Okanagan Mission Huskies of Kelowna take on the Windsor Dukes of North Vancouver at 2:30, followed by the Kelowna Christian Knights against the Mulgrave Titans of West Vancouver at 4.
