Bathurst Panthers first team through to Group 10 under 18s grand final after overcoming rivals St Pat's

Panthers went into half-time down 6-4 against their cross-city rivals but over a devastating window of offensive strength the boys in black scored four tries to win 24-14.

There's a chance it won't be the last time the teams meet this season, with Pat's now set to play Blayney Bears this weekend for the remaining grand final position.

It took some time for the Panthers to find their groove but once they did coach John Fearnley said the team looked superb.

"It was probably our worst half of the year in the first half. A lot things looked clunky, so to come off the field only down 6-4 was a big advantage for us," he said.

"In the second half they started stringing things together and playing the sort of football we've been seeing through the year.

"We got back to what they're good at, which is playing straight. There's clever players out wide with the likes of Noah Griffiths and I think we were trying to get it out there too quickly.

"Full credit to St Pat's. They came out with a good game plan and contained us well in the first half."

Indeed they did, gaining an early 6-0 advantage on the back of a Josh Belfanti try before the Panthers were able to cut the back gap to two through Dylan Miles.

Pat's got out to a 10-4 lead thanks to Ash Cosgrove before the Panthers wrestled away momentum in a big way during an improved second half performance.

Saints co-coach Kev Grimshaw said his side simply couldn't keep pace with Panthers when the pace picked up.

Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here.

"I thought we played very well in the first half and we just ran out of steam in the middle of the second half," he said.

"We had one disallowed over in the corner with nine minutes to go so if we score there we're right back in it. You've just got to take the opportunities when they come."

The winning run for Panthers started five minutes into the new half when Noah Griffiths converted his own try to level the scores.

On the next Panthers venture down the Saints end of the field they hit the lead for the first time when Brad Fearnley broke through the defence and scored.

Panthers' subs got in on the action when Jordan Rice and Nick Davis scored tries in the 45^th and 53^rd minutes respectively.

Tyler Colley's try inside the final 60 seconds of the match would be no more than a consolation for the Saints who now face a Bears side in red hot form.

Bears - looking to win the title after a fifth place finish on the ladder - overcame the second-placed CYMS 22-18 in the minor semi-final to set up the meeting with Pat's.

Panthers go into the decider as defending champions.