WANT to see a team who has worked themselves to the bone to earn a grand final place? Take a look at the Bathurst Panthers under 14s.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Panthers travel to play minor premiers Cowra Magpies in this Saturday’s Group 10 junior deciders and spectators should prepare themselves for a game worthy of being called a grand final.
The path the Bathurst team has had to traverse in order to get to grand final day has been brutal, packed with close results and tightly contested conclusions.
Panthers coach Mick Carter has been seriously impressed by his team’s ability to learn and adapt over their past three games.
"They fell just short last year but they've been going along really well since the early rounds," he said.
"Defence has been awesome for us this year. Along with some familiar faces there's a few new boys in the team and they have all played really well."
Panthers lost just two games of the regular season on their way to a second place finish on the ladder.
Panthers’ journey to the grand final has been flooded with close contests and nervous finishes.
The Bathurst entered the finals series by making in statement in the last game of the regular season, smashing Bloomfield 24-6.
The team were well aware that finals would be a much tougher affair and they came up against a rejuvenated Bloomfield team.
Bloomfield were able to learn from their mistakes and pushed the Panthers boys to their limit by Bathurst held firm to win the qualifying semi-final 18-14.
Panthers had the chance to book a grand final spot a fortnight ago against Cowra but left their run too late in an 18-16 loss.
READ ALSO: Josh Starling to captain-coach Oberon Tigers
Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here.
Bathurst then had to try and overcome Bloomfield for the third time in four weeks and, in another classic contest, scraped home 12-10 winners.
Panthers have never been short on fighting spirit over their finals campaign and Carter wants to see more of it for the upcoming decider.
"Cowra had us down 18-0 at one point and there was really great commitment shown from our boys not to throw the towel in,” he said.
“They really rallied and played out the game."
Panthers and Magpies are the only teams to be representing their clubs in Saturday’s finals.
That will undoubtedly add to the teams’ desire to succeed, but Cowra have the additional motivator of playing at home.
Carter would love to spoil the home town party.
“They’ve always got a strong supporter base and it will be interesting taking them on in Cowra,” he said.
“At the moment we’ve got around 44 people of so coming across on the bus, with others travelling by car, so we’re going to have some great support of our own.
“Cowra’s got a couple of good halves and they’re strong across the paddock but we’re evenly matched in size through the forwards.”
Panthers’ forward pack could be the driving force behind a Bathurst win, led by the likes of co-captain Nathan Barlow, Tom Lemmich, Logan Dufty and Tallis Tobin.
Match starts from 1.05pm.
