BATHURST Panthers stormed back into contention for the Group 10 first division rugby league title, hammering Lithgow Workies 46-4 in Saturday’s minor semi final at Glen Willow Stadium in Mudgee.

In a worrying sign for Bathurst St Pat’s and Orange CYMS, Panthers blew Lithgow off the park.

It was a disappointing end for a game Wolves’ side that has battled injuries and unavailability of players all year.

The side consisted of several players well on the other side of 30 and it was a good effort to make it through to the second week of the play-offs.

Coach Kip Maranda did a great job as captain coach and was again inspirational during the semi final.

The opening 20 minutes didn’t inspire too much as errors and penalties interrupted the flow of the match.

However, when the first points were scored in the 23rd minute, it opened up the floodgates as Panthers led 16-nil at half time.

Their first try came from Mick Godfrey before Matt Woolmington planted the ball over the line for a 12-nil lead.

Panthers’ third for the half was the try of the match.

Woolmington’s long ball found winger Nick Loader who ran down the sideline before kicking in-field for Mick Wicks to score.

It went from bad to worse for Lithgow early in the second half when a bad bounce from a Trent Hotham kick meant Workies were unable to defuse the loose ball before James Woolmington scored.

Koen Willis bombed a certain four-pointer for Panthers when he spilled a bad pass by Hotham with the try line wide open.

However, Aaron Bell managed to score to make it 28-nil with 25 minutes to go.

Panthers went to down to 12 men when Jason Hewitt was sent to the sin bin and from the ensuing set, Lithgow scored through Cory Stockton.

However, two tries in two minutes to Matt Woolmington, and a third to Des Crawford all but ended the match as Panthers extended their lead to 42-4.

Hotham made up for his earlier bad pass, when his flick pass found winger Nick Loader who scored near the corner to end the game.

“CYMS and Pats, they are the benchmark but with an effort like that, there is no reason why we can’t match them,” Moss said.

Scoreboard: BATHURST PANTHERS 46 (Matt Woolmington 3, Nick Loader, Aaron Bell, James Woolmington, Mick Wicks, Mick Godfrey, Des Crawford tries; Bell 5 goals) def LITHGOW WORKIES 4 (Cory Stockton try).

The Wolves under 18s are the only ones still left in the Group 10 play-offs for Lithgow and they will be playing next week for a place in the grand final after going going down to Orange Hawks in the major semi final.

Hawks advance to the Group 10 under 18s grand final after defeating Lithgow 30-18 at Glen Willow Stadium.

The Orange side finished on top of the competition having only lost one match all season, and they showed it would take a well-drilled side to deny them a premiership in two weeks.

Co-coach Lawrence Fogg was ecstatic to have qualified for the September 14 decider.

“It’s unreal, only to lose one game, I think it is really good.

“The week off should be good for us and we should roll through.

“Hopefully we get the money,” Fogg said.

Wolves’ coach Ross Harrington was far from pleased, especially with his team’s defence.

“We haven’t missed tackles liked that all year,” Harrington said.

“Our defence was fairly ordinary and our structure wasn’t too good.

“”We will have to go back to the drawing board.”

Hawks started well when they scored in the third minute through Glen Maxwell and Jye Barrow’s conversion made it 6-nil.

As he did last week against Cowra, Lithgow winger Joel Gurney scored a length of the field intercept try to put his team back on terms.

A few minutes later, Hawks had their lead back when Barrow scored and converted his own try.

Just prior to half time, the Orange club made it 16-6 when fullback Jedd Kennedy scored a brilliant individual try.

Four minutes after the break, Lithgow closed to gap to four points when Wayde Egan scored.

But each time Lithgow would get within striking distance of Hawks, the minor premiers would get away.

Orange scored a fourth try when Steve Khattar scored a length of the field try for a 22-12 lead.

It soon blew out to 28-12 with Kennedy’s second.

Kennedy soon turned provider but unfortunately for Lithgow his knock-on in-goal saw his opposite number Nathan Redding dive on the loose ball for a 28-18 score line with 10 minutes to go.

The Wolves were getting restless as Hawks continued to hold them out.

A penalty goal after the full time siren by Barrow kicked his side into the Group 10 under 18s grand final.

ORANGE HAWKS 30 (Jedd Kennedy 2, Glen Maxwell, Steve Khattar, Jye Barrow tries; Barrow 5 goals) def LITHGOW WORKIES 18 (Nathan Redding, Joel Gurney, Wayde Egan tries; Gurney 3 goals).