The Bears were down on troops and 12 points behind after 10 minutes but still found a way to come home with a win the main game last Sunday.
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Injuries and suspensions saw Blayney field a number of new players and make some positional changes, however it was a good indication of the side's quality this year that they were able to come away with a good win which see's them hold on to second position on the ladder heading towards the finals.
Panthers crossed first after eight minutes to lead 6-0, and scored again shortly after to make the score 12-0.
Blayney hit back in great fashion after 15 minutes when Steve Lane put Bubba Kennedy over under the posts to make it 12-6 and were straight back into attack from the kick off through a Josh Rainbow break, however the ball was fumbled from the next set.
The Bears continued to attack and were looking dangerous with the ball in hand and it wasn't long before they were in again as Terawhiti Cooper and Casey Wallace combined down the right to put Josh Rainbow over and take the score to 12-10.
Steve Lane was sinbinned 6 minutes before halftime and the Bathurst side took full advantage to cross and take their lead back to six points at the break, indeed it could have been even more except for some last ditch Blayney defence right on half time.
The Bears were back in the game after 12 minutes of the second half when a half break and well timed kick by Cameron Dennis saw Terry Brown swoop on the ball and race away to score. From the kick off Michael Nixon showed great speed to burst through inside his own half and out pace the cover defence to cross in the corner and give the Bears the lead for the first time in the game at 18-16.
Some brilliance from Steve Lane with 12 minutes to go saw the Bears increase their lead as he brilliantly dummied his way past three defenders to score.
Cameron Dennis' conversion took the Bears out to a 24-16 lead.
It was the Steve Lane show continuing shortly after as he chipped over the top and toed the ball through off the bounce for centre Bubba Kennedy to win the race and score his second try.
A great sideline conversion from Cameron Dennis made the score 30-16.
A late Panthers try made the final score 30-22 in favour of the Bears. It was a morale boosting win for the club after a tough week and puts the bears right in premiership contention.
Amongst a host of good players five eighth Steve Lane shone as the catalyst for most of the Bears attack, although he certainly benefited from the great work of front rowers Terawhiti Cooper and Will Ingram who are a force in the middle of the ruck.
Also benefitting from the Front Row's good work are back rowers Michael Nixon, Leigh Monaghan and Alex Pettit whose running games are a constant threat on the edge of the ruck while Casey Wallace and Josh Rainbow also had fine games in the backs and were safe when put under pressure.
Next Saturday Blayney travel to Orange to take on the Hawks at Wade Park.
Womens League Tag
Despite being defeated in the Ladies League Tag match by Bathurst Panthers last Sunday, Blayney put in a good performance and matched the talented Bathurst side for most of the day in an entertaining match.
A late try to Panthers saw them seal a 16-6 victory but it was anybody's match up until that point. Panthers were first to score after 15 minutes with a try out wide for a 4-0 lead and increased their lead to 10-0, just before halftime with a converted try near the posts, a lead they held till the halftime break.
Blayney started the second half well and got back into the match after 10 mins when some good leadup work saw Courtney Simmons dummy her way past two defenders to cross under the posts.
Tanesha Hahn's conversion made the score 10-6. Both sides had chances to score as the match unfolded but it was Panthers who crossed 3 mins before fulltime to wrap up the match 16-6. Good performers for Blayney were Holly Uhr who was the Players Player, Laura Funnell, and Courtney Simmons, however the whole side contributed to a commendable display.
Under 18's
Blayneys Under 18's suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Panthers in their fixture last sunday although they were in the match till midway through the second half when some errors and sinbinning allowed Panthers to take control at the back end of the game.
Two early tries to Panthers saw them jump out to a 12-0 lead after 10 mins, before Blayney hit back through Hooker Mac Gosewich when he darted out of dummy half to cross.
He converted his own try to make the score 12-6, but Panthers regained the advantage with a couple of tries leading in to the halftime break to take a handy 18-6 lead.
Blayney looked to have scored early in the second half however Ryan Oborn was ruled to have lost the ball as he dived for the line.
They then made a crucial error in failing to find touch from a penalty near their own line, a mistake Panthers took full advantage of to cross shortly after.
The sin binning of centre Jacob Acton shortly after caused more problems for the Bears and from here on Panthers took complete control to run out big winners 46-6.
The boys have had a hard year so far and it was a big loss, however basic errors at crucial times are really hurting the side and you get the impression that if they can cut these out of their game, and stop getting a player sent the sin bin, there are better times ahead. Mac Gosewich had a busy game in the dummy half role and deservedly won the Players Player award.