Two-try efforts from Blake Lawson and Leigh Monaghan helped set up Panthers’ victory, while a lack of discipline cost the Saints dearly and helped put an end to their early season unbeaten run.

The Panthers side were clearly the better outfit for most of the 80 minutes but when they found themselves trailing 16-14 mid-way through the second half, a repeat of the previous week’s effort against Blayney threatened to become reality.

On that occasion they had dominated but found a way to lose, and yesterday could have been another example of that.

Instead they made the most of a crucial break with 20 minutes to play when St Pat’s half Tony Clevin was given 10 minutes in the sin bin for backchat after a touch judge ruled he had failed to tap a touch-finding Panthers penalty kick back infield.

While he was off the field, Panthers scored twice, effectively sealing the game.

Pat’s coach Kurt Hancock didn’t hold back on his team afterwards.

“The sin bin was deserved, I was nearby and there was nothing wrong with that call,” he said.

“We had a couple of outstanding players today – Rhys Frame and Derryn Clayton, they were both off the bench and both clearly wanted to play. I’m not sure if many of the starting players could say the same.

“Our discipline was terrible on all fronts, not just with penalties but with possession and decision making.

“They wanted it more than us.”

Panthers were aided by a 12-7 penalty count, and were generally able to dictate terms through the game.

They scored first in the eighth minute when half Claude Gordon took on the line and beat a defender before sending Monaghan over for his first, and with dummy-half Nick Loader making easy yards behind his forwards, Panthers looked likely to add to their total.

They scored their second after Todd Barrow, Bradyn Cassidy and Lawson combined for Lawson’s first, though Jye Barrow’s wayward conversion made it seven missed goals in a row going back to the Blayney game. St Pat’s needed a spark and they got it through Benjamin John whose impact was immediate off the bench.

He helped them get onto the front foot, and thanks to a solo effort from Tyson Medlyn they made it 8-4 after 22 minutes.

Prop Travis Wininara may not have played against Brent Seager before so could be forgiven for trying to pull off a big hit. 

He probably won’t try it again after he came off second best, had to leave the field and didn’t return.

John was also on the receiving end of two hammerings from the Group 10 front-rower.

Panthers re-established their lead through Lawson, who made a great run from 15 metres out, and it was Gordon who finally broke their goal drought to put his side up 14-4 approaching half-time.

A brilliant short-side move started by John saw Adam Morton and Frame combine to put Cyp Ale over in the shadows of the break, and it appeared to turn the tide of the game.

After half-time John himself dived over from dummy-half as he has so many times before and Clevin’s conversion gave them a two-point lead. But again the game turned after his sin binning, and fittingly it was a freak behind-the-back pass from Lawson to Monaghan which got Panthers back in front.

Mitch Davis crossed soon after and Panthers led by eight, before Loader and Medlyn swapped tries in the dying minutes.

Lawson, Monaghan, Seager and Gordon were outstanding for Panthers while Clayton, Frame and John – all off the pine – were easily the Saints’ best.

“We’ve been grinding away the last few weeks. At this time of year you’re never going to be playing at 100 per cent but we’re trying to improve each week and there is a good feeling around the team right now,” coach Todd Barrow said of his team’s win.

“Pat’s are a team that give 100 per cent to the final whistle, that’s why they are successful, so to get the win is very satisfying.”

BATHURST PANTHERS 30 (Leigh Monaghan 2, Blake Lawson 2, Mitch Davis, Nick Loader tries; Claude Gordon 3 goals) defeated ST PAT’S 22 (Tyson Medlyn 2, Cyp Ale, Benjamin John tries; Tony Clevin 3 goals)