RUGBY LEAGUE
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DESPITE a brave second half fightback, the under 10 Bathurst Panthers fell just short of making their first appearance on Group 10 Junior Rugby League grand final day a winning one, going down 18-16 to Bloomfield Wildcats on Saturday.
It was ultimately a slow start from Panthers at Carrington Park which cost them, the young Bathurst side finding themselves 12-0 down after seven minutes.
They fought hard to reduce that deficit, centre Jesse Limon leading the way with a hat-trick of tries, but the Wildcats survived the comeback as Panthers’ final conversion attempt struck the post and bounced to safety.
“It was a great game, it is always a battle with them, the boys are always pretty slow starters,” Panthers coach Mick Carter said.
“It was two each between us for the year, but they get the spoils. I am proud of the boys. A loss is hard to take, but they will be better players for the experience.”
While Panthers were first into Saturday’s grand final, the Wildcats were the only team to have defeated them during the regular season.
The Orange side took a big step towards another win when crossing within a minute, winger Josh Sutherland burrowing under the defence to score before Jackson Carter converted.
The Wildcats’ left side attack continued to pressure, both Kaden Williams and Jermaine McKewen making good yards with nice stepping and quick acceleration.
That pressure drew two consecutive penalties before a big left-foot step had hooker Callum Johnson over for the Wildcats. Max Wilson’s conversion saw Panthers down 12-0, but the young Bathurst side soon sparked to life.
When Panthers managed to force a line drop-out six minutes before half-time it led to their opening try, Limon fending off a pair of defenders to score. Jackson Carter added the extras to make it 12-6 at the break.
Just as they had scored early in the first half, Wildcats did so in the second as man of the match McKewen split Panthers up the middle of the ruck and ran half the field for a four-pointer.
Panthers hit back shortly after when Limon crossed for his second, and as Tyson Keogh’s conversion split the sticks, the Bathurst side were back in it at 18-12 down.
Prop Tyrese Tilley made some good yards as Panthers pressed for a third try, but it was Limon who got it when charging over from a quick tap.
However, the conversion attempt which would have seen the game head into extra-time struck the post, the Wildcats holding on to win by two points.
BLOOMFIELD WILDCATS 18 (Jermaine McKewen, Josh Sutherland, Callum Johnson tries; Hugh Cocoran, Max Wilson, Jackson Hill goals) defeated BATHURST PANTHERS 16 (Jesse Limon 3 tries; Tyson Keogh, Jackson Carter goals)