It was billed as a potential preview to this year’s Group 10 premier league grand final, and that’s exactly what Orange CYMS’ trip to Carrington Park to play Bathurst Panthers delivered.
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In the truest indication of just how evenly-matched the joint competition leaders are, they couldn’t be split on Sunday, playing out a thrilling 30-30 draw.
It’s seemingly inevitable the sides will meet come finals time, a mouth-watering prospect after their two regular season encounters – CYMS won by six points in round two.
“It's probably a fitting result. We were great in patches and so were they,” CYMS captain-coach Mick Sullivan said.
"We had a couple of guys coming back from injury who are probably still a run short (and) we picked up a lot of injuries towards the end there … we had a few walking wounded and we lost Brock McGarity early.
“So to hold on for a draw is not the worst result for us.”
The boot of Panthers fullback Jeremy Gordon went within inches of ending CYMS’ unbeaten run after Panthers had come back from 26-8 down to draw level with just three minutes remaining.
Gordon’s field goal attempt, inside the final 10 seconds, drifted just right of the posts.
“We knew it could turn because they had all the ball in the first half,” Panthers coach Todd Barrow said.
“We made it harder for ourselves with our completions and unforced errors but to the boys’ credit they knew they had the points in them to get themselves back into the game, and they did that.”
CYMS opened the scoring 15 minutes into the game when Joe Duffy latched onto a dropped ball and scored.
Jake Betts produced a superb offload to Jeremy Gordon, allowing the hosts to quickly reply and bring the score back to 6-4.
Errors prevented Panthers from making any ground. With 12 minutes until the break CYMS looked certain to find a way over when they enjoyed a full set close to the Bathurst try line.
Instead, Mick Sullivan’s pass to the right wing was picked off by Kade Barrow who raced 90 metres down the field to score.
CYMS didn’t let that stumble ruin their rhythm as they dominated the rest of the half.
A fantastic team play was finished off by Joey Lasagavibau before a pinpoint kick from Sullivan found the hands of Tom Satterthwaite by the corner post.
Ben McAlpine then waltzed through and found his hooker Sam Hill in support, to lead 22-8 at the break.
Claude Gordon was sent to the sin-bin five minutes after the restart and CYMS took advantage, scoring through Brenden Cousins.
Gordon cancelled that out though with a try of his own, and that’s when Panthers shifted up a gear.
Joey Bugg finished off a creative piece play before Claude Gordon’s try took the scoreline to 26-24, in CYMS’ favour.
Bronx Goodwin’s try with just minutes left gave Ben McAlpine a chance to give CYMS an eight-point lead, but his conversion sailed wide.
Panthers didn’t lose their enthusiasm and levelled it up through Blake Seager inside the final three minutes.
Jye Barrow’s conversion snuck inside the right upright to make it 30-30.
- BATHURST PANTHERS 30 (Jeremy Gordon 2, Kade Barrow, Joey Bugg, Claude Gordon, Blake Seager tries; Jye Barrow 3 goals) drew ORANGE CYMS 30 (Joe Duffy, Joey Lasagavibau, Tom Satterthwaite, Sam Hill, Brenden Cousins, Bronx Goodwin tries; Ben McAlpine 3 goals)