The eight-team A grade competition, which ran from April 24 to June 5, split in half at the end of seven rounds, with the bottom four teams dropping down to play in the A reserve competition.

On Saturday, just the one game in the A grade competition was played, with Bulldogs Verdelho defeating last year's runners-up 38-31.

Three-time reigning premiers Collegians Mystified was meant to play Scots All Saints College 1^st VII in the other match of the day, however, Scots All Saints forfeited it match, handing Collegians the crucial points of the first round.

Bulldogs Verdelho takes the lead on the competition ladder after the first round following the split, with Collegians Mystified in second, Panthers in third and Scots All Saints in fourth.

In the A reserve competition, both matches went ahead with Nova Sky, who finished A grade in sixth before the split, beat the winless Bulldogs Hurricanes 54-38.

In the other match, Superstars United, who just missed out on staying in the A grade competition after finishing fifth, drew 33-all with Panthers Allsorts.

After one round of the A reserve competition, Nova Sky is in first, followed by Allsorts, Superstars and Bulldogs Hurricanes in second third and fourth respectively.

Bathurst Netball Association will now pause play for the next few weeks due to the school holidays, with the next round of play being scheduled for Saturday, July 24.

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