ORANGE CYMS are back on track.
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The green and golds snapped a four-game Group 10 premier league losing streak against Blayney two weeks ago, and backed it up with a thumping 36-16 win over Oberon last weekend.
Despite the consecutive victories, CYMS’ captain-coach Mick Sullivan remains wary of overconfidence leading into Sunday’s round 14 clash with Bathurst Panthers.
“We’re heading in the right direction,” Sullivan said.
“If we get a win over Panthers I think we can start saying we’re completely back on track. We still have a few things to improve on but we’re a lot closer to where we need to be.”
Sullivan said despite many considering Panthers a “bogey team” for CYMS and the Bathurst side’s recent form, his troops are primed to score a third straight win.
WATCH OUR VIDEO PREVIEW OF THIS WEEKEND'S GROUP 10 MATCHES:
Panthers are coming off a bye last round after handing competition leaders Mudgee its first loss of the season the week prior.
“Panthers are always tough,” Sullivan said.
“They’ve got some big, strong boys up front who will test us with a reasonably small pack this weekend. Their backs have a certain x-factor, honestly when they have a red hot game there’s very little you can do about it.
“Our line speed needs to be good, we need to get up on their big boys and stop any potential offloads. That has been one of our problems this year is allowing teams to play too much second phase stuff, and we’ve leaked points because of it.
“If we can keep tightening up defensively the way we have been in recent weeks our attacking stuff will take care of itself. We all know we can score points.”
A lack of big men will make CYMS’ job tougher, with the green and golds’ entire front row rotation absent.
Des Knight (unavailable), Brent Colley (hamstring strain) and Zac Bohan (work) will all miss the clash, with Ryan Prevett and Kyran Bubb to wear the No.8 and 10 jerseys respectively, and Cam Jones a certain starter off the bench.
The game kicks off at 2.30pm at Bathurst Sportsground.
Carrington Park is unavailable as it is being prepared for the Penrith Panthers and Cronulla Sharks NRL clash on July 26.
ORANGE CYMS: 1 Dan Stuart, 2 Zac Rue, 3 Tim Bassmann, 4 Scott Piper, 5 Ali Beale, 6 Ben McAlpine, 7 Mick Sullivan, 8 Ryan Prevett, 9 Sam Hill, 10 Kyran Bubb, 11 Riley Law, 12 Matt Penny, 13 Ben Gosper.
