BATHURST Panthers coach Todd Barrow was a worried man at times during his team’s 30-16 Group 10 premier league victory over the Cowra Magpies on Sunday.

A week earlier his team had squandered a brilliant start against Blayney and for a few tense moments, it looked as though they might do the same against the Magpies.

Poor handling and a huge penalty count kept Cowra in the game and it was only a contentious decision that prevented them getting to 20-16 with 13 minutes to play.

Fortunately for Barrow, his players stepped up when it mattered and earned a desperately needed win to stay two points adrift of St Pat’s on the ladder.

This weekend when the Bathurst rivals meet Panthers can draw level with a win, but Barrow knows a loss will undo all the good work.

“After what happened against Blayney we knew that we could not afford another loss, fortunately we stepped up,” he said.

“But basically it means nothing if we can’t beat St Pat’s. We’re in a battle with them and a few other teams for fifth, so a loss would be devastating.

“It has taken us a while, but we are getting there as far as fixing some of our problem areas goes.

“We didn’t have much ball up their end of the field today, but when we did we were able to capitalise almost every time and that’s something we’ve had trouble with.”

There are still facets of Panthers’ game that need to lift, and they were saved on occasions by some panic from the Magpies.

The visitors were able to make some breaks through the middle of the field – something that has been an issue for Panthers all season.

However, those defensive lapses weren’t really punished, as poor hands from Cowra saw them turn the ball over almost every time they threatened to score.

The health of half Joey Bugg will be of some concern to Barrow, who himself was forced to sit out the game with injury.

Bugg was given a heavy push while running in support of a flying Sandon Gibbs-O’Neill. The offending Cowra player was placed on report for the incident once Gibbs-O’Neill had been awarded his try.

Bugg has found his feet in the last few weeks and has struck up a damaging combination with five-eighth Jeremy Gordon.