WHEN Bathurst Netball Association decide the merge the A grade and A reserve competitions this season it was hoped that the younger, less experienced teams could benefit from match time against strong competition.
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No team personifies this better than Panthers Agriwest.
The team earned a place inside the A grade top four thanks to last week's mammoth 74-25 victory over Scots All Saints College, in a game where the winner would claim the remaining position.
Agriwest's presence in the top four gives Panthers double the representation in the upcoming six-game series, alongside the club's regular A grade squad.
Earning that top four finish on the table has already fulfilled the major aim this season for Agriwest coach Angela Best and her team.
Everything from this point onward is a bonus for Best, who couldn't be prouder of her side's efforts.
"They played outstanding netball," Best said.
"Scots All Saints had a couple of girls out but even if they played I feel like our girls would have won by that amount because they were playing amazing.
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"After the game I said to them that I've never seen them playing so well. Now we're top four and we can't wait to play."
Best isn't expecting any wins against front runners Collegians Mystified and clubmates Panthers but what she is hopeful of seeing is a determination from her girls to constantly improve.
"We won't beat them," she said.
"What we want to do is to bridge the gap. Whatever they beat us by in the past, we want to close that margin, and look at finishing third."
This year's run to the A grade title sees the four teams face off against each other twice.
Agriwest will start that run on Saturday against Collegians from 1.15pm while Panthers A grade face off against Bulldogs Verdelho from 3.45pm.
Those outside the top four - CSU, Panthers Toshacks and Mustangs, SASC, Mana and Bulldogs Hurricanes - will now play off for the A reserve grade crown.