After defeating Orange Hawks and Dubbo Macquarie Raiders in the group stage, Panthers progressed to the final against Macquarie, with the Bathurst club proving its class with a comfortable 22-6 win in chilly conditions at the King George Oval.

While Panthers coach Mick Carter said his team didn't know too much about Macquarie, he said the earlier group stage match against them gave them a good understanding of the squad for the final.

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"We didn't know a lot about them but it was good we got them in round two, having played them earlier in the day," he said.

"They were a big physical side. I'm very proud of all the Panther boys for how they stood and aimed up. We got a few injuries through the day but I can't fault anyone really.

"If I think hard about it, we maybe had six errors through the day that cost us or lead to points against us, but it was still a good performance."

Carter found it difficult to single out a player who played the best at the tournament, rather he focused on the ability of his players as a team.

"I was very impressed with all the boys. I couldn't really point my finger on one person that stood out," he said.

"That's the great thing about the side, that it is a great side that can potentially give this competition a real shake up. I can replace a quality front rower with another front rower or a back rower or an outside back.

"That's the luxury I've got at the moment, baring injuries. Everyone that went on that field did their job."

Carter believes the win at the Blayney pre-season competition gives the club a good indication of where it's at almost two weeks from the start of the Group 10 competition.

"I think that gives us an indication of where we're at," he said.

"I think a few of our boys thought they were possibly underdone, but I think they surprised themselves with how fit they are.

"I was very proud of the whole effort but I think we gave a silly penalties and a bit of back chat which invited the opposition down the field and that's when they scored.

"In our first game we beat Hawks 14-4, only the one try against us. The next game was against Dubbo and we conceded one try too, but the tries we conceded were from silly penalties, us inviting them down the field."

For the injuries some of the under 18s players picked up, Carter believes they will be sorted by the first game of the season in the local derby against St Pat's.

"I'm little bit concerned about a couple of injuries," he said.

"We do have this weekend coming up off and by next weekend for round one in the local derby against St Pat's they'll be right. Time will tell.

"I took 19 players and by the end I was down to 16. Everyone stood up and could certainly hold their heads high."

Panthers will clash with St Pat's in its first Group 10 under 18s match of the new season at the Jack arrow Sporting Complex on April 25.

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