BATHURST Panthers celebrated the 1994 and 1997 Bathurst Penguins first grade premierships by taking top spot on the Group 10 premier league ladder, thanks to a 12-point win over the Blayney Bears on Saturday night.
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The 34-22 victory combined with the three other round 11 games being postponed – due to the torrential rain's impact on the region's grounds – sees Panthers shoot up to first. They're one point ahead of Oberon and St Pat's
Panthers avoid the hassle of rescheduling the game too, which other top five sides Oberon, Bathurst St Pat's, Mudgee Dragons and Orange CYMS will now have to do.
"When we held the ball we were quite good tonight," Panthers captain-coach Todd Barrow said.
"We had a lot of guys back here this weekend celebrating those two Penguins titles ... it was great to get a win for them."
Wearing one-off jerseys modeled on the 1997 Penguins strip Panthers unveiled a new signing in the win too – St Pat's premiership-winning prop Wade Judd.
Also a former Oberon captain-coach, Judd's signing will help offset the anticipated, sporadic absences of Brent Seager in then latter of the season.
Panthers scored just two minutes in through Jye Barrow but the Bears hit back when Ryan Oborn swooped on a loose pass to run 70 metres and score.
Tries to Jed Betts and Trent Hotham gave Panthers a 14-4 lead after 27 minutes though and Panthers looked comfortable, and capable of running away with the game.
Bears halfback Luke Petrie kept his side in touch with a marvelous individual effort though, but Betts grabbed his second not long after and Jeremy Gordon's conversion gave Bathurst a 20-10 lead at half-time.
Jake Betts dived over from the back of the scrum to score the first points after the break, which also gave Panthers a 24-10 lead with 23 minutes left.
Lachie Hobby kept the Bears in it though, scoring in the right corner and converting to get his side within eight before Panthers hooker Nick Loader was sin-binned – that gave Blayney a serious sniff.
Chris Rainbow duly went over and so did Hobby's conversion to make it 24-22.
With Blayney looking likely to steal victory from the jaws of defeat Panthers five-eighth Jeremy Gordon sprung to life to cross twice in the dying stages and converting one to seal the 34-22 win.
"[Judd] made a big difference in that game, his experience … as soon as I realised we were down to 12 men I wanted him out there in that situation," Todd Barrow said.