The two blues gun was terrific for a Hawks side that tagged brilliantly throughout a second-half slog with the Bathurst Panthers girls in their 12-4 qualifying semi-final triumph at Wade Park on Sunday.

Forced to defend their line for the bulk of the second stanza, Hawks worked as one before two key moments helped relieve plenty of pressure.

With Panthers pressing after forcing a drop-out, with seven minutes left and Hawks up 6-4, five-eighth Bec Ford produced a thumping drop kick that traveled 90 metres – 50 of them on the fly – to race the two blues up the other end of the field.

The Bathurst girls eventually worked their way back into attacking territory, but after Hawks regained possession, Merchant got the ball and incredibly beat a multitude of Panthers defenders on a 55m dart to score a great finals try.

With less than five minutes left on the clock, the eight-point buffer proved a match-winning one.

VIDEO: Check out what Hawks half Bec Ford thought after her side’s gripping finals win at Wade Park:

“She’s amazing, if you put her in space and give her a bit of time she’s got the best hips in Group 10,” Ford said, referring to Merchant’s ability to pivot past opposition defences.

“Panthers have a few quick girls, Claire Woolmington, Amy Hotham at the back there and I thought they would have got here but in the end she got lucky and used her hips well.”

Earlier, Panthers shot out of the gates with a great try to Nilani Lang in the ninth minute and for the bulk of the first period looked in control of the match.

But Hawks’ tagging kept them in the game, and when Sophie Humphris crossed for the two blues right on the stroke of half-time Ford’s goal gave her side an unlikely two-point lead at the break.

“That came off a couple of sets on our line and it became hard,” Panthers captain-coach Monique Christie-Johnston said.

“We had to be patient, that first 20 minutes of the second half was a solid no-tries period for both teams, and then they got a lucky break and scored.

“The promising thing is the girls have a lot left in them and we can improve going into next week.”

Christie-Johnston said the tagging from all teams in Group 10 made it crucial to take chances at points when they’re presented.

Hawks did that better than Panthers in the qualifying semi-final, and that’s why the two blues will get a shot at minor premiers St Pat’s at Cowra next Sunday.

“It’s improved, the attack and defence,” Christie-Johnston added.

“Everyone’s defence has improved out of sight and you have to lift an extra couple of notches for finals.”