Group 10: Bronte Emanuel scores four tries to help St Pat's to 44-6 tag win over Bathurst Panthers

The talented five-eighth showed why she's long been one of the best playmakers in the Group 10 league tag competition as she helped the Saints to a 44-6 win over Bathurst Panthers at Carrington Park.

While Emanuel said her haul had plenty to do with being part of such a strong squad - the Saints have now won eight consecutive games this season - she did take pleasure from the intercept effort given the wet and slippery conditions.

"I've dropped a few in the dry so I was extra happy to get that in the wet. I don't know how that works, but I'll take it," she smiled.

"It was nice to get four, we just have such a good team across the park so everyone has their chance to have their day."

Strength across the park has been has been a key factor in the Saints' success, but just as important for the three-time defending premiers has been their depth.

It was a quality they demonstrated on Saturday as their success came without a pair of Group 10 representatives in Paige Hay and Meredith Jones.

"Don't get me wrong we are going to miss Mez for the rest of the season and we'll be without Darcy [Morrison] shortly too, but we've got plenty of players who can step up and they did that today," Emanuel said.

READ MORE: St Pat's finally end Panthers winning streak in the premier league derby

READ MORE: Saints soar over CYMS in a complete league tag performance

READ MORE: Bathurst Panthers hooker Nick Loader gets through an hour in his return match

The game was a tick over two minutes old when Pat's struck the first blow and it was Emanuel who did it, slicing through Panthers' defence on half way and running away to score.

Though conceding early, Panthers enjoyed their best attacking period of the game in the minutes that followed.

The Saints threw an errant pass into touch when returning the ball from the kick-off, gifting Panthers good field position.

Jess Hotham's smart kicking game kept her side in attack for 13 plays - she forced a knock-on and line drop out - before an error handed the Saints back the ball.

Having shown they could defend under pressure, the Saints then switched to attack mode.

A long range effort from fullback Erin Naden, Ebony O'Neill's determined kick chase and smart work from Emily Rhynehart out of dummy-half saw the Saints out to a 22-0 lead at the break.

There was more Emanuel magic to start the second half as she crossed twice in as many minutes, Saints skipper Mish Somers adding the extras to make it 34-0.

A nice Somers cut-out pass then helped set up O'Neill's second of the match, before Emanuel's brilliant intercept effort made it eight Saints tries for the match.

While well behind on the scoreboard, Panthers kept up their efforts until the final whistle.

Fullback Rosie Snare made a 45 metre line break, only a good covering tag from Saints custodian Naden halting her run.

But their highlight came in the final minute when skipper Hotham scored after she had caught out Pat's with a short kick-off.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: