Lithgow Wolves fans at halftime in the Group 10 Premier League clash against Bathurst Panthers had more than just a glimmer of hope their side could pull off a major upset.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The scores were locked at 10-all and the Wolves had produced a gritty first half effort against the more fancied opponents in the cold and windy conditions of Tony Luchetti Sportsground.
Despite the Wolves putting a up a good fight in the second half the Panthers managed to pull away for a 26-14 win.
Lithgow captain-coach Jonathan Van Veen was pleased by his teams effort.
“I reckon it was probably our best performance of the season.
“But just the same again we let the game slip.
"The class of Panthers showed through there and the lack of experience of our blokes.”
Bathurst’s Mitch Davis scored the first try of the game early through some good work by their crafty five eighth Claude Gordon.
The second Bathurst try was in the 13th minute after a break by Claude Gordon who set up hooker Nick Loader to make his way over the Lithgow line.
If Panthers thought they had the advantage they were wrong as a series of penalties went Lithgow’s way and the Wolves found some room down the short side near Bathurst’s line for winger Ben Glasson to score.
The Wolves fired up then in defense keeping out a couple of dangerous Panther’s raids.
Lithgow has been guilty of a few lapses before halftime recently but it wasn’t on show against the Panthers as young Wolves centre Cody Godden got rewarded for a good game in defense and attack with a try as the half was coming to an end to make it 10-all.
When the teams came out after the break it was the Panthers who warmed up first with a converted try after two minutes to centre Blake Lawson to make it 16-10.
Bathurst’s fullback Jeremy Gordon who had proved a handful for the Wolves defense finally sliced through with 20 minutes to go.
To their credit the Wolves didn’t give up and managed to get one back through centre Nath McAndrew after a good backline movement. Unfortunately it was not converted with the score 22-14.
With nine minutes to go Bathurst went wide and caught the Lithgow defence napping.
The try to panthers winger Chris Sheperd effectively ended any chance of a Wolves comeback.
Bathurst Panthers captain-coach Todd Barrow was not so happy with the win.
“It was a very scrappy game. I think the only positive to take out the game was the two points.
“We still have a lot of work to do but a wins a win.”
Panthers 26: M Davis, N Loader, M Davis, J Gordon and C Shepard tries; J Gordon 3 conv. defeated Lithgow 14: B Glasson, C Godden and N McAndrew tries; J Jones conv.
