While the Panthers A squad boasts a host of players familiar to Bathurst’s top flight and proven combinations, it is a much different story for Mustangs.

Drawing in the main from Orange to form a new side, the Mustangs nominated in a lower grade before being slotted into the A grade draw.

The difference showed as Panthers A outscored their club-mates in every quarter, going on from a 29-7 half-time lead to post a commanding win.

However, Mustangs coach Donna Baart knows her players will only benefit from facing a premiership contender on debut.

“It was a good opening, at least they have a benchmark now, they know the level they need to be at,” she said.

“They have never all played together before, they are all new combinations, so it was good experience.

“It would’ve been easier to come in in B grade and build up, but that’s how it is. They were competitive today and it was good experience for them because the standard is different to from where they came from.

“We have got about six girls from Orange who are coming over to play. A few of them work together so they wanted to try a different club and it all worked in really well.”

Mustangs did have the honour of scoring the first goal in A grade this season when capitalising on the opening centre pass.

However, the experience of Panthers A soon came to the fore. After five minutes the lead belonged to the Di Coombes coached outfit and from there it did not look back.

Panthers A shooters Jess Matthews and Claire Woolmington benefited from excellent passing into the circle, the speed in which their team-mates drove down court also making things tough for Mustangs.

In the other A grade games, Bulldogs Verdelho beat Nova Pursuit 45-25, Collegians Mystified downed Mana Wasps 44-22 and the young Panthers WWL outfit forfeited to LJ Hooker Hawks.