Episode 8 of "The Winning Try" resumes right where the intensity of the President’s Cup match between Hanyang and Daesung left off. Ung candidly confesses his inability to tackle, prompting Ga-ram to devise a strategy where he’ll shoulder the scoring burden while his teammates absorb the opposition’s pressure. The depth of Hanyang’s bench being severely limited, the team finds themselves on the brink of exhaustion as the final whistle draws near, ultimately allowing Daesung to edge out a victory by a mere two points.
Ung is consumed by guilt, believing his hesitation and failed tackle during a crucial moment handed Daesung their narrow win. Though his teammates refrain from责备, they acknowledge the urgency of addressing his tackling deficiency.
Post-match, the rugby squad dashes to the shooting range, their spirits high as they lend their vocal support to the Hanyang archery team. Ga-ram's presence there is fueled by his concern for I-ji, while the teammates playfully needle Seong-jun about his hidden motive of cheering for Woo-jin. Inside, the tension is palpable as Seol-hyun and Woo-jin engage in a fierce battle for gold and silver medals. I-ji observes the disappointment etched on Nak-gyun and Seol-hyun’s father’s faces, a reflection of their biased support and disdain towards others. The competition concludes with Woo-jin clinching gold and Seol-hyun settling for silver.
Gyu-won reminds Nak-gyun of his pledge to facilitate Seol-hyun’s early admission into a prestigious university, a promise complicated by the fact that only one spot is available and Woo-jin's qualifications outshine Seol-hyun’s.
Back at school, Jong-man and his cronies continue to ridicule the rugby team, especially when Ga-ram boldly declares their intention to win the national championship. However, Jong-man’s tune shifts abruptly when Principal Kang shares Coach Song’s scouting report, revealing that the Hanyang rugby team has captured the interest of every scout present.
Jong-man swiftly restructures the training schedule, prioritizing the rugby team at the expense of Hanyang’s acrobatics squad. Heung-nam seeks clarification from Jong-man after the meeting, to which Jong-man responds coldly, emphasizing that his medal-less team contributes nothing to his evaluation for the principal’s position. Heung-nam redirects his frustration towards Ga-ram, accusing him of having everything come too easily.
Later, as the rugby players savored every word of the scout's report about them, Ung was diligently putting in extra hours, his focus unwavering on mastering the art of tackling. The following day, Ga-ram ventured onto the field to lend him a hand, yet held himself back, cautious in his approach. Despite the team's attempt to incorporate military training techniques, Ung remained unable to conquer his fear.
The reason behind Ung's aversion to tackling came to light when a damaging post about him went viral, accusing him of being a bully. A flashback revealed a harrowing encounter where a gang of bullies coerced Ung to join their ranks. When he steadfastly refused, Geong-chang, the ringleader, threatened Ung's father. Driven by rage, Ung tackled Geong-chang with such force that his head struck a pile of bricks, narrowly escaping a fatal outcome. Although Geong-chang eventually recovered after an eight-week hospital stay, Ung was left psychologically scarred, explaining his inability to tackle.
Confronted with this revelation, the team set out to help Ung overcome his trauma and clear his tarnished name. Under the guise of securing permission slips for going home, the players embarked on a mission to confront Geong-chang. Seong-jun was willing to endure humiliation by kneeling and pleading, provided that Geong-chang agreed to delete the defamatory post. Geong-chang attempted to toy with them, but the players' fierce demeanor outmatched his bully gang, ultimately forcing him to take down the post.
The next day, the team strolled through the halls, their chests puffed out with pride over their victory. They claimed credit for Jong-man's role in removing the post before heading to the gym for training. However, Ga-ram refrained from applauding their efforts on behalf of Ung. Instead, he punished them for underestimating him, lying, and putting themselves in jeopardy due to their misplaced perception of their coach's incompetence. On the field, Ga-ram meted out a grueling punishment, compelling them to tackle him relentlessly.
Ga-ram's demeanor was unmistakably serious, and the team quickly realized that he meant business. They spent hours on the field, tackling him one after another, with Ga-ram granting them release only when he deemed their tackles satisfactory, including Ung's.
However, Ung remains hesitant, and the team bears the brunt of his indecision. Ga-ram, in desperation, reaches out to Ung's father, who subsequently issues an ultimatum: either Ung confronts Ga-ram or he returns home with his father. Faced with the stark choice of abandoning his teammates, Ung finally summons the courage to tackle Ga-ram.
Elsewhere, Woo-jin discovers Nak-gyun's secret plan to recommend Seol-hyun for early admission to Daehan University. To her dismay, Seol-hyun lacks enthusiasm for the opportunity, complying solely out of obligation to Jong-man. Adding insult to injury, Nak-gyun had entrusted I-ji with the task of composing a recommendation letter for Woo-jin, only toredirect it to Seol-hyun.
Woo-jin confronts Nak-gyun about this unjust arrangement, brandishing the threat of exposing his admission fraud. Nak-gyun, unperturbed, retaliates by physically attacking Woo-jin and hurling her into a glass trophy cabinet. His brutality knows no bounds as he continues to assault her mercilessly while she lies defenseless. He threatens to derail her career should she persist in her quest for justice.
I-ji rushes to Woo-jin's aid, but Nak-gyun mocks her presence, especially when she brandishes a gun. He sneers at her impotence, knowing she struggles with the yips. However, I-ji, with steely resolve, pulls the trigger. As the episode culminates, I-ji aims the gun directly at Nak-gyun, and the sound of a gunshot echoes through the room, leaving their fates hanging in the balance.
