Orange Hawks hung on to claim a high-scoring thriller against cross-city rivals and reigning premiers CYMS, the boot of Willie Heta ultimately proving the difference in the 82-point bonanza.

CYMS stormed to an 18-6 lead but Hawks roared back and led 42-24 after just 53 minutes before Mick Sullivan’s outfit produced a comeback of its own, when Cam Jones scored his second try of the afternoon, the green and golds trailed by just two.

The defending champions could have hit the front, too, after Sullivan chipped ahead for fullback Tom Satterthwaite, the flying CYMS custodian regathered and raced into the back field but couldn’t find support, Jordan Baker shutting the play down.

CYMS then had a final shot at what would have been a remarkable win in the dying stages, but again Hawks’ defence was up the challenge, prop Ethan McKellar wrapping up Satterthwaite on the sixth tackle of the green and golds’ final set to secure the 42-40 win.

The two-point triumph is Hawks’ first against CYMS in nearly four years and caps an emotional month for Heta, Hawks’ captain-coach has had to travel back to New Zealand on several occasions after the passing of his grandfather.

He arrived back in the country after his latest trip home on Friday morning but showed little ill-effects, Heta playing a leading hand in four of his side’s seven tries and kicking all of the conversions.

The classy playmaker scored his own four-pointer on the stroke of half-time, kissing the ball after plucking an intercept and racing 45 metres to score.

“That was a little shout out for my granddad who passed away. I’ve been home twice in the last month. That was for him. It was good to get over the line,” he said.

Heta questioned his side’s attitude after a disappointing loss to Workies in round six, but that discipline and drive was back on Sunday.

“We could tell how much the boys wanted it and they had to dig deep to get it,” Heta continued.

“They always get up for the local derby. It’s good to finish it on top and see a big smile on the boys’ faces and those in the crowd that turned up.

“It’s been a good day for the club, we’ll enjoy this one.”

In the other shed, Sullivan was seething.

The last time CYMS conceded more than 40 points in a game was round seven of 2013 in a 42-20 loss to Bathurst Panthers.

And while the last three derbies before Sunday’s 82-point display have drawn big totals –  74 points, 70 points and 88 points – CYMS has won all three.

As competitive as they come, Sullivan was stunned to go down on Sunday.

“Since I’ve been here … 42 points … wow,” a despondent Sullivan said.

“I don’t think we’ve let 42 in too often. Forty points should be enough to win a game, especially a derby, but they ran hard and they’re a big side.”

CYMS will host Blayney next Sunday at Wade Park in a bid to turn around what is now a two-game losing run after Panthers pipped the premiers 24-22 in round six.

“We need the Blayney game coming up but they’ll be fired up and try to hit us while we’re down, no doubt. They always lift. It’s a mini derby,” Sullivan added, the Bears picking up their first win of the year last Sunday.

“We’ve got some busted bodies but it’s no excuse, they’ve got their two best out (in Nathan Potts and Brodie Christopherson).

“We just need to do the little things right. I don’t think I’ve seen so many individual errors in dry weather football.”

Those errors were non0existent in the opening 12 minutes though as CYMS raced to a 12-point lead via tries to recruits Kyle Frazer and Josh Neale.

But the tide turned quickly soon after and when it did, it was awash with blue.

A double to man-mountain Saul Houma and tries to Jordan Baker, Duncan Young and Heta’s intercept rocketed the two blues out to a 30-18 half-time lead, a rare pie for CYMS prop Cam Jones the only bright patch for the home side in an otherwise pretty woeful 28-minute period for the green and golds.

The floodgates threatened to burst when Jack Aumuller scored the opener of the second half and Baker’s second then made it 42-24, before tries to Dylan Wood, Lasagavibau’s second and Jones got the premiers close only to fall short at the final hurdle.