THE Bathurst Panthers squash team are on a mission to make a breakthrough in the annual cross-town competition this weekend – they want to claim an A grade crown.

Bathurst have plenty of talent within their men’s A grade ranks and will have the benefit of playing on their home. 

But perhaps a more telling factor will be the absence of Bankstown, the club having claimed the A grade men’s and women’s double in 2014.

Bathurst will be represented in the men’s A grade competition this year by Jason Black, Dave Fuller, Nathan Fuller and Tony Sheedy.

Dave Fuller, making the step up this year from playing as a number three to the number two, believes his quartet can prevail in what is shaping as a tight competition.

“In the men’s A grade we have five teams competing and I’d say that they’re all pretty close. I think there’s probably going be three of them fighting it out at the end,” he said.

“On paper I think the Bathurst side should have the depth to win. Dubbo have two teams in A grade and I would expect them to be strong. 

“Crookwell are having their first go at A grade and have good players at one and two, but I’m not sure they have enough depth at three and four.

“Their number one is Josh Southwell-Knobbs and he’ll probably go through the weekend undefeated, and would be the best player here this weekend.

“Their number two is also very strong, but I think they may fall away at three or four. Whoever is playing them though is still going to have to be on the ball.”

Bathurst will not be fielding a women’s team in A grade this year, but their B grade outfit is expected be a strong contender.

It is another grade Fuller expects to come down to wire.

“We’ve got a Bathurst team there [B grade] who should go very close with the five teams there. There won’t be much between any of the teams,” he said.

“There’s also three men’s teams playing in C grade.

“There’s a Bathurst team competing in D grade which will be made up of a lot of juniors. It’s a great chance for them to all play alongside their parents and family in the same tournament.”

D grade will be a repeat of last year’s two-team duel between Bathurst and Rylstone, with the Panthers squad defending champions.

All matches are played over three games with each worth one point, except for the final game which is worth two.

The competition gets started at 8.30am on both Saturday and Sunday with matches also taking place at Orange Squash Courts and Kinross Wolaroi School.

“I’d like to also thank Orange for helping with the co-hosting of the event,” Fuller said.