Alex Ronayne looked a happy man after his side withstood everything Group 10 heavyweights Bathurst Panthers threw at them and ran in six tries of their own.

“Akka” crossed twice himself in a pleasing hit out.

Pluses for the Raiders are the form of rookie prop Maclay Ryan, young forward Shaun Stanley (despite a solid head knock) and impressive five-eighth Blake Merritt who began the season in the wing and at fullback.

The experience of Colt Ure, Kane McDermott and Filisone Pauta will be invaluable in the finals and coupled with the return to his hole-punching best by giant centre Corey Cox, are other positives from the game as was the speed of backs Nixon, Daley, Ralph and Hamilton.

Macquarie 32 d Bathurst Panthers 6

JUNIORS: Panthers 46 d Dubbo Macquarie 0