PROVEN combinations bolstered by some young talents - Panthers shooter Jess Matthews hopes that will be the formula which helps her side to success in this season's Bathurst Netball Association A grade competition.
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With the start of the new premiership - this year involving just five teams from three clubs - delayed due to COVID-19, the draw has seen Panthers and their rivals face a hectic start.
In the first three weeks of competition five of the 10 scheduled rounds have been completed and Panthers find themselves sitting third on the ladder with two wins, a draw, a loss and a bye.
After drawing 28-all with Bulldogs Verdehlo and falling by just one goal to Collegians Mystified in a 36-35 nail-biter in the opening fortnight, Panthers found success in both legs of their weekend double-header.
Taking on their Panthers clubs-mates, they beat Toshacks 46-29 and Agriwest 54-36.
In both those performances proven combinations clicked - Matthews and Bugg complimenting each other well as goal shooter and goal attack while centre Emma Miller provided good drive.
But Matthews was also pleased with how the new recruits performed.
"Fingers crossed our regular combinations help, but we've also got a few new girls in the team, they are younger and it's good to have them come and join the team. It's good having young ones who can run all day," she said.
"Hope Coombes, Taliyaha Chatfield and Ella Muller have come in, so we have two centre court players and a defender. Ella played in Agriwest in A grade last year and has come across, the other two were in A Res."
On Saturday against Toshacks, a strong second quarter laid the foundation for Panthers' victory.
But while the final margin was a comfortable 17 goals, the younger Toshacks outfit pushed Panthers until the final whistle.
Toshacks' goal attack Grace Mooney was accurate despite the pressure applied by strong holds from Chatfield, while wing attack Abby Stammers and centre Sophie Stammers did their best to try and counter Panthers' quick transitions.
"We had a really good second quarter which gave us that good lead," Matthews said. "[But] Toshacks kept coming, they're always like that, you've got to keep going forward or they'll catch up.
"I think against every team you still need to play 100 percent or you might do down. Bulldogs definitely look stronger this year as well and Collegians are as strong as always.
"I was thinking that no, we wouldn't get to play, so it was good that we actually get to have a season and play a couple of games."