Bathurst Panthers will have the bragging rights across Group 10, for now, as last year’s preliminary finalists claimed back-to-back Bathurst Panthers Knockout grand finals at Carrington Park on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jeremy Gordon proved the difference, scoring the match winning try in the second half against a gutsy Oberon Tigers outfit.
Panthers captain Todd Barrow said he was pleased with his side’s 10-4 success.
“It was a little bit patchy at the start, but on the back of our D we came home with it,” he said.
“We backed our D all weekend and it has been spot on.
“Our attack was good today, but as I said, our defence really set it up for us. Giving boys like Jeremy [Gordon] and Doug Hewitt the room, they benefit from the big boys.”
In the first semi-final, the Tigers defeated an ever improving Orange Hawks side, 20-6.
Panthers went up against Group 10 premier league heavy weight Orange CYMS in the second semi, outscoring their opponents from the colour city, 18-6, to qualify for the grand final.
The Tigers had the first big attacking opportunity six minutes into the first half, but a mistake in the corner meant a Panthers scrum feed.
But come the 15th minute of the first half, Panthers’ winger Braydn Cassidy opened the scoring in the corner.
Gordon missed the conversion for the Panthers, leaving the score at 4-0 at the half-time interval.
A passionate and vocal Oberon crowd down their best to support the Tigers players, as Daniel Qoriniasi scored an equalising try in the second half.
It wasn’t enough, however, as Gordon busted through the Oberon defence to score the match winning try for the Panthers.
The win will set Bathurst Panthers up nicely for their Group 10 premier league campaign, as they will be amongst one of the favourites to take out this year’s grand final.
St Pat’s crashed out in the quarter-finals, losing to the Panthers 14-0.
In the first division grand final, Panthers played St Pat’s in a local derby.
Panthers, the defending Group 10 first division premiers, took a 10-4 lead into half-time
St Pat’s held a 12-10 lead going into the final minute, before Panthers won a penalty with 10 seconds remaining.
Bradyn Wicks slotted home the penalty for Panthers, sending the game to golden point extra time.
St Pat’s scored a spectacular field goal that bounced off the goal post and in, to claim the victory and grand final.