IT is often said that experience counts come finals time and if that is true, St Pat’s first division outfit will certainly be a team to watch.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When the Saints take to Carrington Park on Saturday in the opening weekend of Group 10 finals, standing across from Bathurst Panthers will be some very familiar faces.
Chris Osborne will guide the Saints from halfback, while alongside him will be the likes of Brent Dennis, Stan Latu, Mark Elliott and Trent Hemsworth.
“It is like having the first grade side from 2000,” Pat’s prop Rhys Frame laughed.
“Having a few of those older heads back will be good.”
It was one of those experienced players – Osborne – who proved the difference the last time Pat’s met Panthers in a final.
His field goal with 11 minutes left in the 2017 preliminary final handed the blue and whites a 13-12 win.
Just as that game was close, Frame expects Saturday’s qualifying final to be hotly contested. Certainly their respective records this season backs up that opinion.
READ ALSO: Tag title is far from in the bag for Saints
READ ALSO: Under 12 Saints hope to end a golden run
After 18 rounds of the regular season it took for and against to separate the Bathurst rivals as both posted 12 wins, three losses and a draw.
Pat’s claimed second spot thanks to having 10-point better differential than Panthers.
The head-to-head record between the pair stands at one win apiece, the Saints winning 24-18 in round four at Jack Arrow Oval while the rematch at Carrington Park was a 26-0 victory to Panthers.
“I think it should be a good game, anything can happen in a local derby,” Frame said.
“This week we had a really good training session, which is always good when you verse the other local side.
“Our forwards have got to go forward first, we’ve got a few old heads in the forwards, and if we can do that, we can create space for our backs outside us.”
Pat’s and Panthers will do battle from 2.40pm Saturday in the qualifying final at Carrington Park.
While you’re here
You can now receive online headlines from the Western Advocate delivered straight to your inbox at 6am six days a week. To make sure you’re up-to-date with all news across the Bathurst region, sign up here.
