Over the past two years the number of juniors registered playing in Group 10 JRL competitions has grown from 2,201 to 2,556 with the expansion coming in both tackle and league tag ranks.

The league tag finals commenced last Sunday, while this Saturday the top tackle sides will join in as they hunt for premiership glory.

Eels, Saints and Panthers young guns are amongst those who will be hunting, with the tackle semi-finals at Lithgow on Saturday and second week of tag finals to be hosted by Jack Arrow Oval on Sunday.

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SEASON 2021 can already be rated as a big success for Bathurst Panthers as seven of their eight competitive teams qualified for finals.

The under 11, under 13 and open league tag teams all advanced, as did the under 11, 12, 13 and 16 tackle teams.

"I think it's possibly one of our most successful years in terms of how many Panthers teams have made the finals, out of all the boys our 15s were the only team that missed ... then our three girls sides made it," Bathurst Panthers Junior Rugby League vice-president Mick Carter said.

"Even from our under 6s through, all coaches this year have done a fantastic job and as a committee we are all very thankful for the job they've done."

For Panthers' league tag sides, this Sunday will see them fighting to avoid elimination. The under 11s face Mudgee Red, the under 13s also square off against the Dragons while the 16s will battle with Orange CYMS Green.

"Our 16s they got beaten pretty comfortably by Mudgee over in Cowra last week but they'll regroup now, get a second bite at the cherry and hopefully get the job done, same with our 13s, they were beaten last week so hopefully they can regroup. Our 11s won last week, so it was awesome from them and hopefully they can keep it going," Carter said.

As for the tackle sides, the 16s earn a week off after claiming the the minor premiership, the 11s and 12s are in qualifiers against Orange CYMS and Cowra respectively, while the 13s are hoping to survive an eliminator against CYMS.

"Our under 11s certainly should give a great account of themselves, our under 12s were beaten in the last game of the regular season by defending premiers Cowra and they will both play again this weekend in Lithgow, it should be a cracking game but they've got their work cut out," Carter said.

"Our 13s, they finished fourth, but they have been travelling along quite well. I think that team has already maybe exceeded the expectations they had at the start of the year."

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"ABSOLUTELY fantastic" - that is how St Pat's Junior Rugby League president Tony England describes the effort in seeing so many teams from his club represented in finals.

While the under 16s league tag side bowed out of the title chase with a loss to Orange CYMS Green last Sunday, if the under 13s beat their Orange CYMS Green rivals this weekend they'll earn a grand final spot.

In the tackle the under 12 Pat's Blue and under 14s will fight for survival against Bloomfield this Saturday while the 15s (versus CYMS) and 16s (versus Bloomfield) will compete in qualifiers.

"I'm very happy with how the club is presenting itself and I'm really happy for all the kids playing because it gives that extra bit of playing and there's nothing quite like making a finals series," England said.

"There's been massive amounts of dedication from the players, but also the parents and coaches. It's mums and dads who drive them to training and the games and the coaches that volunteer their time to be there and help those kids out.

"So across the board to have that many teams making finals is just fantastic, absolutely fantastic."

England knows the two older tackle teams are the most likely Saints to challenge for a premiership, but he's got his fingers crossed for all those in blue and white.

"The 14s are quite strong, but they've got very strong competition to compete against as well. In the 12s we were lucky enough to have to have two sides and when they did the countback it came down to one game being the difference between Blue making the finals and not making it, so that's really good for those guys, I'm really impressed by them," he said.

"They've had a tough year the under 12s, it's hard to step up into that age group and have the full field, the rules change a bit, so full marks to their coach."

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EGLINTON Eels under 11s coach Aaron Bateup admits his side "scrapped through by the skin of our teeth" into the finals, but now they are there he has confidence they can go further.

Heading into the last round of the regular season the Eels knew a win against Orange CYMS Green would cement them fifth spot, but when their rivals scored after the siren to force a 12-all draw it was a nervous situation.

"We were just waiting on results from other games, but we got through on a countback," Bateup said.

"They played unreal on Saturday, they played their hearts out ... now that they've found out they're in, they're super excited."

The under 11s are the oldest side at the Eglinton club and as such, it will be the first taste of finals football for all of them.

They will face Lithgow Storm - a team which beat them 30-28 in round five - on Saturday in an eliminator. But Bateup knows his team has improved since giving up a 10-point lead to lose that match.

"Most sides that years gone by have been able to give us a bit of a touch up, this year it's been different, we've got a few kids from Oberon that have come into the side, we're training a lot harder and the kids are starting to believe in themselves," he said.

"We've got that little bit of belief now that we can pretty much match it with any team. It's a tight little competition, I think anyone in the top five can take it out. We have to do it the hard way obviously, but I think we can go a fair way and give it a shake."

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