BATHURST Panthers are alive across all four regular Group 10 grades going into this weekend’s opening round of the finals series, marking the second straight season the club have achieved the feat.
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The under 18s boys shape up as the leading hope for the club after storming to a minor premiership ahead of Bathurst rivals St Pat’s.
First division a part of a hotly contested three-way battle for their minor premiership along with the Saints and eventual winners of that mantle, Orange Hawks.
The league tag women have to upset a rampant Pat’s team during the finals while the premier league men are forced to take the long road towards a grand final after finishing fourth.
Panthers president Dennis Comerford said it’s been another stellar year for the club but the job’s not done yet.
“We’re the club champions for 2018, which is the second consecutive year that we’ve done that,” he said.
“I know it’s a joint effort by quite a lot of people to achieve that but I think a lot of credit has to go to our first grade captain-coach, who is our club coach, in Dougie Hewitt.
“He’s a rookie coach and for him to achieve that from a club perspective is a huge effort.
“Johnny Loughlin and Jarrod Gafa have done a great job coaching reserve grade. We’ve had John Fearnley in under 18s and Monique Christie-Johnson in league tag and without them we wouldn’t have this achievement.”
Panthers will also be a part of the minor semi-final in the inaugural under 18s league tag competition.
John Fearnley’s under 18s boys get the week off courtesy of their minor premiership, and could be looking ahead to a major semi-final derby with Bathurst rivals Pat’s.
Of the four teams in action this weekend three of them will get to play on their home turf at Carrington Park on Saturday.
The 18s league tag girls fight for survival against the Mudgee Dragons, the first division men prepare for an all-Bathurst qualifying semi-final with Pat’s and the premier league men put their season on the line against the Oberon Tigers.
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On the following day at Wade Park the senior ladies league tag side can book a major semi-final place with a win over hosts Hawks.
Panthers will be renaming Carrington Park as Farmer’s Stadium Bathurst for the day.
“It’s in recognition for farmers that are doing it tough with the drought. Hopefully we can get a bit of support as we collect donations during the day, and that’s being done on behalf of Group 10 and all its clubs,” Comerford said.
“People always seem to enjoy a night game, provided that the weather is good, and hopefully it holds out for us so we can get a few people down there and raise a bit of money.”
Under 18s league tag between Panthers and Mudgee starts from 2pm.
Panthers and Pat’s will play in the qualifying first division semi-final straight after at 2.40pm while the main event between the hosts and Tigers kicks off from 6.15pm.
At Wade Park the following day Panthers and Hawks play from 10.30am.
Pat’s 18s league tag play Hawks for a grand final spot at 9.45am and Saints and CYMS play in the boys 18s qualifying final at 11.30am.
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