Bathurst Netball Association's top two grades merged for new season

When play gets underway for a new season this Saturday there will be a 10-team competition fighting for the crown.

Defending champions Collegians Mystified are back to defend their crown while fellow finals contenders Panthers A grade, Bulldogs Verdelho and Mana also make a return.

Panthers will feature four teams in the top tier and Bulldogs Hurricanes join the merged top tier.

Scots All Saints College play their inaugural season and CSU are back after pulling out of last year's A grade competition.

This year's format sees every team play each other once, for a total of nine rounds, before the top four teams play off for the A grade title and the bottom six go after the A reserve trophy.

BNA publicity officer Emilie Miller said the merger will give teams plenty of variety in opposition.

"It gives different teams for everyone to play against and they're not just rotating through the same couple of teams every few weeks," she said.

"Having that range of teams will really test those A reserve teams who have previously played in that division, but you definitely can't discount the teams who played there last season because there's some really strong girls there.

"This will help improve their netball. Every minute you spend playing tougher teams makes you a better player and teaches you better skills."

Miller said there's been no change in numbers, simply a change in where teams were nominated, which forced the A grade and A reserve merger.

"At the end of the day it's still a strong competition," she said.

"Our numbers are pretty good because we just had a lot of teams nominate to play in A reserve grade. I think this encourages a lot of the younger players coming through our representative program to test themselves in the top grade.

"There's a couple of clubs that are really starting to grow their numbers. It's looking really exciting for the season ahead."

This Saturday's only game between two 2018 A grade sides will be the 2.30pm contest of Bulldogs Verdelho and SASC 1^st VII.

Collegians Mystified begin their title defence with a game against Panthers Agriwest at 1.15pm while CSU and Panthers Mustangs play at the same time slot.

The remaining games at 3.45pm see Panthers A grade play Bulldogs Hurricanes and Panthers Toshacks taking on Mana.