The Lithgow Workies premier league side has continued its stellar run into the finals with a 16-6 win over the visiting Bathurst team on Sunday, July 28 in a match Panthers captain-coach Doug Hewitt labelled "disgusting".
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The Panthers, 2018 premiers, were the last team to beat the Workies this season and were expecting a tough match when they faced the Lithgow team on their home soil at Tony Luchetti Oval.
"It got out of hand in the first half, the ref never had control from the get-go," Hewitt said.
"It was probably the worst spectacle to watch all year."
Lithgow Workies coach Graeme Osborne said, aiming for seven in a row and playing in front of their home crowd for the last time in the regular season, the boys had plenty to play for.
"We trained really hard all week, worked out what Panthers were playing and I think we defended it really well," he said.
It was a tight game from the get-go, with the Workies scoring an early try and the Panthers levelling the scores going into half-time.
It was all the Workies' way in the second half, however, as they showed some determined defence to keep the Panthers out and added another two tries.
Osborne said ball control continued to be an issue for the Workies squad but he was pleased with the solid attack on show.
"There's a lot of hands in the ruck, whether they were penalties or lost balls... It's hard in country footy, you haven't got so many eyes on the game, but I thought our ball control coming out of our exit sets was a bit tardy.
"We pride ourselves on getting to our kicks and I don't think we got that."
He called out a big contribution from Matty Swift for his enormous individual defensive effort to come from the opposite side of the field and chase down Josh Rivett, who looked set to score an individual try.
"You talk about one percenters... They're the little efforts that really pick you up."
Greg Alderson made a big contribution coming back from the flu to play and picking up a try, while Josh Howarth had a big game at the back.
Workies' forward Tui Oloapu will be assessed for a strained calf after going off in the second half.
Hewitt said the Bathurst Panthers' focus would be on getting its players back to fitness, with several suffering suspected concussions. Jake Betts' jaw would also need to be assessed for a break, he said.
"In the end it was just dangerous out there for anyone involved," he said.
"We're not too worried about the loss in itself, more worried about the injuries and getting everyone healthy again for next week."
"It doesn't hurt to lose a game every now and then to keep you on your toes, but that out there today, it wasn't just losing a game, your more worried about the welfare of everyone out there."
LITHGOW WORKIES 16 (Jack Sullivan, Cody Godden, Greg Alderson, goals Josh Howarth 2) def BATHURST PANTHERS 6 (Jack Siejka, goal Josh Rivett).
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