The Storm outmuscled a previously unbeaten Panthers 14-10 at a freezing Loseby Park on Saturday to pull off the upset of the season.

What made it even more remarkable was that the home side only had 14 players to call upon with several first-team regulars unavailable.

Read more: What sports have been cancelled in the Highlands?

Baines said his side were keen to prove the doubters wrong after only winning twice before the weekend.

"On the weekend we only had 14 players and they just wanted to play for each other and they proved everyone wrong," Baines told the Southern Highland News.

"We're no easybeats. I heard a couple of rumours that they thought they were going to come up and put 50 on us.

"We used what's been working for us. Even though we've lost some games we've just been sticking to our strengths and doing what we've been doing in previous weeks and obviously it worked against them."

This year is the Storm's first in the Group 7 Third Grade Regan Cup after moving from Group 6.

The Storm made the Grand Final last year, losing 18-16 against Narellan Jets, but have found life in the South Coast competition tough going.

Baines said his players were better than what they've shown so far this season.

"We haven't been getting flogged, we've only had one massive loss in Round Two against Robbo [Robertson Spuddies]," he explained.

"We've been in every single game but ill-discipline and silly mistakes have cost us. We could have been up with the best of them but we've let ourselves down."

With COVID-19 restrictions temporarily halting Group 7 action the Storm are set to next take to the field against Jamberoo Superoos on July 17.

The Under 16's also had a thrilling victory with a last-minute try and conversion from Sam Allen and Curtis Boese respectively sealing a 20-18 win over the Panthers.

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