THE first time Bathurst Panthers met the Blayney Bears in 2014, it was viewed as a match that would kick the men in black into gear as they tried to overcome a slow start to their Group 10 premier league season.

Eighty minutes later it must have felt like the end of that season, as a 28-20 capitulation handed the Bears their first victory in the top grade for 14 years.

Coach John Fearnley described it afterwards as a low-point for his Panthers, who have shown with wins over top-five sides Cowra, Mudgee and Orange CYMS that their best football is outstanding.

Unfortunately against the Bears, and again last Sunday against St Pat’s, they were close to their worst.

With a four-point gap as well as for-and-against to try and make up on CYMS in three weeks, Panthers have no choice but to be back near their peak when they host the Bears tomorrow afternoon at Carrington Park. 

“That was a game against Blayney that we were expected to win. We obviously didn’t play very well and things just seemed to go against us. I got injured early and so did Blake Seager,” Panthers playmaker Matt Rose said.

“It wasn’t a great feeling after the game, but it did highlight how much we had to turn things around. We said afterwards that we wouldn’t let that sort of performance happen again, and I don’t think we have.

“The game against St Pat’s last week wasn’t great, but we probably haven’t been as bad as we were against Blayney that day.

“We’ve really tried hard to turn it around over the last month and I think we deserve a performance this week that will show just how much effort and hard work we’ve put in to get things going the right way.”

Rose admitted that he couldn’t explain just what went wrong against St Pat’s last Sunday in what was a sub-par game from  both sides despite some moments of good attacking flair.

A slow start gave the Saints a 16-point lead and though the sides were evenly matched thereafter, it was a game Panthers would love to forget.

The fact that the ailing CYMS suffered their fifth loss in seven games made it even harder to take.

“Looking at how we’d gone against CYMS and Mudgee, to turn up and play like that was gut wrenching, especially with CYMS losing. We could have been only two points behind them,” Rose said.

“Maybe the preparation wasn’t as good, I don’t know, but there is nothing you can blame it on when you are that ordinary.

“It makes it hard for us now, but another win this week and a loss for CYMS and we’re certainly still alive.”

A lot will depend on fitness issues for Panthers tomorrow as they await confirmation regarding Trent Rose, Blake Seager and possibly Mick Ingwersen.

If the trio all miss out, it will put a major strain on Panthers’ back row stocks and increase the work-load on a player like lock Jake Betts, who is already doing more than his fair share of grunt work. It would be a big ask.

“Trent is 50-50 at the moment,” Matt Rose said.

“He would be a big loss, he’s been a big part of our turnaround and when he and young Seags [Blake Seager] went down last weekend, that made it tough to come back. I thought we could have with those two still out there.

“We just really have to stand up and be counted this weekend.

“If we are serious about wanting to play finals football, you’ll see it. If we’re not, you’ll see a team just going through the motions.

“Blayney got us the first time, they have every right to be confident they can do it again and I’m sure they’re going to turn up believing it and ready to go.”

Panthers host Blayney from 2.30pm.

BATHURST PANTHERS (probable): 1 Cody Robbins, 2 Chris Shephard, 3 William Kennedy, 4 Blake Lawson, 5 Mitch Davis, 6 Matt Rose, 7 Blake Dean, 8 Brent Seager (c), 9 Joey Bugg, 10 Osea Sadrau, 11 Trent Rose, 12 Blake Seager, 13 Jake Betts.