Defending Group 10 premiers Bathurst Panthers are a chance of securing the club its first home grand final in 12 years after a 40-18 demolition of Mudgee in Saturday's qualifying semi-final at Carrington Park.
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The men in black raced out to a 24-4 lead at the break and were never headed, booking their place in next week's major semi-final at Wade Park.
Panthers will take on minor premiers Orange Hawks for the right to host the 2019 Group 10 grand final day, something Hawks did in 2013.
The last time Panthers hosted the big dance, though, Dave Elvy was captain-coach and the Bathurst club won back-to-back titles, an achievement Doug Hewitt's side is gunning for in a big way this season.
Blake Lawson bagged a double in Saturday night's victory over Mudgee, while Jack Siejka, Josh Rivett, Mack Atkins, Willie Wright and Louis Murphy all crossed the line in the seven-tries-to-three thrashing of Jack Littlejohn's Dragons.
Littlejohn was sin binned late in the first half and then didn't reappear for the Dragons as he continues to manage a niggling knee injury he's carried in 2019.
Willie Wright was also binned late in the game for dissent but it was of little consequence for the premiers.
In the lower grades, Orange CYMS won 34-4 in the under 18s qualifying semi-final clash with ??? but the green and golds' season girls went down to Hawks 18-8.
The under 18s qualifying semi was won by Panthers 32-6 over CYMS and St Pat's scored a 26-20 elimination semi-final win against Mudgee to keep their first division season alive.
Sunday's semi-finals are at Lithgow, with Workies hosting Cowra Magpies in the premier league elimination game.
- BATHURST PANTHERS 40 (Blake Lawson 2, Jack Siejka, Josh Rivett, Mack Atkins, Willie Wright, Louis Murphy tries; Willie Wright 6 goals) def MUDGEE DRAGONS 14 (Todd Munn, Harrison Maynard, Corin Smith, Chanse Burgess tries; Ben Thompson goal)
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