Orange CYMS prop Chris Bamford has taken the first step in completing a stellar Group 10 premier league season by taking home the player of the year award on Friday night.

It’s the first prize for one of Group 10’s biggest characters, with a grand final win and Dave Scott Medal, awarded to the man of the match in a grand final, well within his sights after CYMS won through to the grand final last weekend.

All three would effectively be the Bam slam.

Played out at Bathurst Panthers League Club, the devastating Bamford swept to this year’s top prize, virtually leading from the moment he polled three points in a season-opening demolition of St Pat’s in round one.

The field did creep up on the former Country prop after he spent time on the sideline injured, with his total of 19 points two ahead of Panthers bookend Brent Seager and Mudgee five-eighth Sam Wooden, both polling 17 points during the regular season.

Suspended Workies veteran Jono Van Veen was fourth with 14 votes, while a host of players ended the 2017 season on 13 – Willie Heta (Hawks), Ben Thompson (Mudgee), Doug Hewitt (Panthers) and 2013 Group 10 player of the year Ben McAlpine (CYMS).

McAlpine won the Dave Scott Medal and the premiership in 2013, as well.

Bamford joins McAlpine, Tim Bassmann (2012) and Mick Sullivan (2010) as recent CYMS winners of the award.

Last year’s player of the year, Panthers’ gun Jeremy Gordon, finished on 12 points.

In the lower grades, Bathurst Panthers utility Joey Bugg took home the first division player of the year award after steering the men in black’s reserve grade side to the minor premiership.

Bugg edged Oberon’s Sam Gascoigne and Workies’ Evan Hughes – both on 10 points – by two, scoring that amount of points in the final round.

CYMS’ rampage to the under 18s minor premiership was rewarded with Ethan Monk claiming the juniors player of the year gong.

Monk pipped highly-rated Panthers half Adam Fearnley for the top award, the pairing scoring 22 and 21 votes respectively.

While in the league tag, Hawks skipper Bec Ford scored a three in the final round win over St Pat’s to trump last year’s player of the year, Liv Bird, for the 2017 award.

Ford’s form has been sensational for the two blues girls, the Hawks five-eighth nabbing 23 points to stave off challenges from Bird and her Bears teammate Sophie Stammers, both pinching points off each other to score 22 and 21 respectively, while Panthers’ gun Claire Woolmington was also in the reckoning with 20 points.