The Tigers, gutsy all game, had given up possession as well as a penalty with 90 seconds on the clock and Panthers on the attack.

A few plays later, Trent Rose and William ‘Bubba’ Kennedy combined to set up Shephard who did the rest.

Missing a host of first grade regulars, the Tigers had threatened to steal a memorable win when ex-Panther Riccie Arriola put his team level at 22-all.

Another former Panther in Steve Lane put them in front with a nerveless sideline conversion.

“It is good to win one, I thought some of our senior players really stood up today, especially after what happened before the game,” winning coach John Fearnley said.

“Trent Rose in particular I thought was great today when we needed him to be.”

The pre-game issues he referred to were the absence of their captain and best player Brent Seager who injured his hip in the warm-up.

His brother, in-form lock Blake Seager had already been ruled out after training mid-week.

In his absence Jake Betts was immense, and one of the key figures in the win.

Early on neither side seemed intent on completing many sets, and yet another Panthers product in Greg Behan opened the scoring in the seventh minute for the Tigers.

Soon after Panthers replied as Matt Rose gave a perfect inside ball to Trent Rose who’s running line meant that he scored untouched, though Blake Lawson missed an easy conversion.

Suddenly with some momentum, Panthers enjoyed a good period and on the 20 minute mark opted to repeatedly focus their attack on Oberon’s right edge.

It worked, as Matt Rose and Kennedy sent Shephard on a sideline run, with the winger kicking infield where Matt Woolmington toed ahead before diving on the ball to claim a freak try.

Nearing half-time, Panthers’ tactic of rushing up on Lane proved costly as he held the ball up and sent Arriola across, giving his team a 12-10 lead.

To make matters worse for the home team, a sequence of mistakes gave the Tigers a third try, Arriola bagging his second as they took an 18-10 lead to the break.

The intensity lifted in the second half, though the ball handling didn’t, and Matt Rose brought his team back into the game with a nice solo try from close range.

For 20 minutes the teams traded penalties and mistakes until finally something stuck for Panthers as a Lawson off-load ended with a Kennedy try in the corner. 

Having blown numerous chances to ice the game, Panthers invited Oberon back into it with errors and penalties and though some calls were harsh, the Tigers had some equally baffling decisions go against them.

Oberon finally breached their line with Arriola’s third, only to be denied by Shephard’s winner.

“It is disappointing to lose, but I could not be prouder of my players,” Tigers coach Scott Traynor said.

“We only had 12 fresh players at the start of the game, we were missing nine from the side which played Panthers in the first round.

“It was a huge effort.”

For Panthers the Rose brothers were strong, while Luke Carpenter and Jake Betts were stand-outs, Betts getting through 19 runs and almost topping double-figures for off-loads.

Fijian international Osea Sadrau was solid and got through a dozen hit-ups, but will be better for having a game under his belt.

Tigers fullback Jackson Brien was the most dangerous player on the field, while Lane and props Behan, Luke Christie-Johnston and Nathan Annetts were all impressive.

BATHURST PANTHERS 26 (Chris Shephard, William Kennedy, Matt Rose, Trent Rose, Matt Woolmington tries; Blake Lawson 3 goals) defeated OBERON TIGERS 24 (Riccie Arriola 3, Greg Behan tries; Steve Lane 4 goals)