With a host of big-name signings this season, 2017 Group 10 premier league runners-up Oberon were tipped to take out the annual pre-season tournament at Carrington Park.

The Tigers looked good in beating Lithgow 24-4 – their tries including an 80-metre special sparked by Dave Sellers – and St Pat’s 20-10 to reach the decider.

Oberon also scored first in Saturday’s final via a charging Tui Oloapu, but handling errors and missed opportunities saw Panthers come away with the $3,000 prize money.

Hewitt scored the match winner with five minutes left, stepping deftly off both feet to open up the Oberon defence.

The men in black had beaten both Blayney and Orange Hawks earlier on Saturday, but it was the victory over Oberon in the 20-minutes each way format that Hewitt relished the most.

“I said at the start of the year that everyone had written us off. They had those big wigs named and Oberon was one of them, so for us to win against one of those big wigs when everyone had written us off, it makes this even better,” Hewitt said.

“To beat Blayney, Hawks and then big wigs Oberon, it was a great confidence boost.”

Though Hewitt’s try was critical in the win, the man who has taken on a senior coaching role for the first time in his career deflected praise. He was impressed by the younger members of the squad, while new recruit Blake Hewitt was busy at hooker, prop Brent Seager returned a typically strong performance and lock Jedd Betts made good yards.

“To be honest with the adrenaline I don’t remember it [the try] to well, but you just sort of see what’s in front of you and you do it,” Doug Hewitt said.

“It’s just a credit to all the boys today. It’s crazy how well they dug in in this hot weather and won three games and three tough games too. We copped a lot of injuries throughout the day, but the young blokes stepped up, they did an unreal job.

“We had a couple of under 18s playing and how they played – you’d think they were seasoned first graders, so hat’s off to all the boys.”

Panthers created the first chance of Saturday’s final when Blake Lawson’s good kick-chase forced a line drop-out, but the resulting kick sailed over the heads of the Bathurst players and bounced into touch 10 metres into their half.

The Tigers came close to scoring off the following set, Tyler Hughes bundled into touch as he attempted to dive over in the left corner, but the favourites were on the board before the break.

Second rower Oloapu, who had scored in both of Oberon’s earlier wins, made a 30-metre charge down the right flank to score.

However, the second half belonged to Panthers. After forcing a line drop-out for the second time in the contest, quick hands had Findlay Grabham over in the corner with 12 minutes remaining to lock things up at 4-all.

Hewitt then came up with his piece of individual brilliance after Oberon had put a clearing kick out on the full to seal the win.