CYMS laid on 14 unanswered points in a stunning opening 10 minutes at Sid Kallas Oval on Sunday, before closing the game out in the second period by crossing for the game’s final three tries.

The Magpies showed plenty of ticker and reduced the margin to eight points on two occasions during the 80 minutes but CYMS’ consistent, smart play proved the difference between the two sides.

“We have been starting a lot better this year which is helping us. We started pretty hot and everything went to hand. Our basic skills are probably better this year and I think that’s showing,” Orange CYMS coach Mick Sullivan said post-match.

“We are testing our depth. We have four or five quality players out today but with the team we put out and the result we got I’m really happy with that.”

CYMS began at a frantic pace and caught the Magpies off guard. 

Tom Satterthwaite, Jo Lasagavibau and Tim Mortimer scored four-pointers in first 10 minutes – both latter tries were length of the field efforts from the restart – and Ben McAlpine knocked over two of the three conversions.

The Magpies opened their account in the 17th minute when a clever set-play kick from Cameron Breust off a scrum in his own half was scooped up by a flying Nic Collett who went in untouched.

CYMS responded inside the final minutes of the half with fluent play from right to left, finished off by Satterthwaite, sending the margin back to 14-points.

Cowra’s interchange prop Zac Starr posted the first try after the break but from there CYMS outclassed the home side, taking advantage of second phase play and registering a further three tries through Dom Maley, Tim Mortimer and Chris Bamford.

Sullivan described his big men Cameron Jones and Chris Bamford as well as Tim Mortimer as outstanding.

“We have really good go forward. Our two props [Cameron Jones, Chris Bamford] and our lock [Tim Mortimer] are outstanding. They’re playing big minutes, they know what they’re doing and they’re posing questions everytime they run it.

“It makes it a bit of fun for the pivots and we have some quality backs. We’re doing the little things right and playing really smart football.”

Cowra coach Rory Brien was pleased that his side was always in the contest but was left frustrated with their completions. He added that there is a bit of pressure mounting on the Magpies.

“I’ve been talking about completing sets and getting to the kicks. We completed at 50 percent. Against a side like CYMS you have to complete and when you’re 14 points down it’s hard to come back from.

“We really need to start putting some points up now because we have a lot of away games later. Hopefully we can get organised and moving forward again.”

ORANGE CYMS 36 (Tom Satterthwaite, Tim Mortimer 2, Joe Lasagavibau, Dom Maley, Chris Bamford; Ben McAlpine 4 goals) def COWRA MAGPIES 12 (Nic Collett, Zac Starr tries; Cameron Breust 2 goals).