The green and golds remain fourth after the victory, with Panthers dropping to fifth and Oberon shooting up to third on points difference after downing Blayney 42-10.

Crucially, CYMS have a far easier draw than the Tigers in the final three weeks of the Group 10 premier league’s regular season and the latter side also has a final-round bye from which they’ll pick up no points.

“We needed that win. If we can finish third, or even second, it gives us two cracks and that’s what we really want. It sets up us well for the derby (against competition leaders Orange Hawks) next weekend too,” CYMS front-rower Joe Duffy said after Sunday’s win.

In a clash that had all the hallmarks of a semi-final and absolutely lived up to its third-versus-fourth billing, CYMS’ resolute defence and a monstrous performance from Chris Grevsmuhl in the middle proved the difference at Wade Park.

Panthers had plenty of attacking opportunities but the green and golds constantly turned them away and held the men in black up half a dozen times too, that effort was led by Grevsmuhl in his return from a hamstring injury.

Although he was still visibly hampered he provided plenty of spark in attack too, scoring CYMS’ first try and being held up on another occasion. With the game in the balance at 12-4 in the 75^th minute, the former NRL star produced a massive one-on-one strip that directly led to Joe Lasagavibau’s match-sealing try.

In particular it was CYMS’ defensive effort in the opening 20 minutes that stood out. Panthers camped in the green and golds’ half during the opening period and had a plethora of opportunities, but couldn’t finish.

CYMS used the momentum and confidence they took from that, channeling it into the game’s first points through Grevsmuhl in the 23^rd minute.

“We haven’t really held teams out like that this year until [Sunday], and I think that’s a pretty good sign,” Duffy said.

“It was a big defensive effort, we really backed each other up and kept working, that’s what we need to do.

“Looking back at that we probably should’ve completed a few more sets during that period and made it a bit easier on ourselves, but our D held. 

“It built confidence for us during this game and we’ll take that into next week against Hawks, a bigger pack again. Knowing we can hold those packs out, grind it out and use that momentum once we’ve got the ball, it’s very positive.”

None of that is to say Panthers were ever out of the clash.

Although they made a few too many errors for captain-coach Doug Hewitt’s liking and discipline was a slight issue at times, for the most part he was pleased with his side’s performance.

“They took every opportunity they got,” Hewitt said, his side’s now suffered back-to-back losses.

“Their defence was good, they’re very well-drilled and they kept showing up for each other which is something we’ve worked hard on this year too.

“We were pretty good for the most part too, we just slipped up a couple of times and they made us pay.

“I think maybe we lacked a bit of urgency as well and our enthusiasm wasn’t quite where it needed to be. (Dropping to fifth) is disappointing. We were aiming for the top three, but all we can aim to do is bounce back from this now.”

Grevsmuhl’s 23^rd minute try, converted by player-coach Mick Sullivan,  was actually the only score of the opening half as CYMS took their 6-nil lead into the break, although both sides had chances after that try.

The green and golds struck straight after half-time when Semisi Katoa latched onto a deft grubber from Dom Maley, with Sullivan’s conversion attempt waved away to leave CYMS’ lead at 10-nil.

After being held up then forcing a line drop-out Panthers finally capitalised on a chance not long after to cut that gap to a converted try, Kade Barrow diving over in the corner despite cries for obstruction from the green and gold faithful.

Panthers lock Jake Betts was stretchered from the field clutching his leg shortly after, before the men in black gave away a string of penalties not long after, eventually giving Sullivan an easy chance to extend CYMS’ lead to eight points with a 64^th minute penalty goal.

Panthers were handed a golden opportunity to fire back straight away again, turning to their big boys close to the line, but were again held up.

Grevsmuhl was held up at the other end three minutes later before producing that one-on-one-strip. Two tackles later Sullivan grubbered behind the line and Lasagavibau won the race, it went unconverted to leave CYMS’ lead at 16-4.

Panthers reduced the margin to 16-10 when Luke Bain charged over in the 78^th minute. Willie Wright converted, but not before Kyran Bubb was sent-off by referee Nick Lander for dishing out a monumental spray after Bain’s four-pointer.

Down to 12 for the remaining 90 seconds, CYMS held, Kyle Fraser taking a rare intercept and taking a tacke on full-time as Panthers threw it around in a bid to score a last-ditch try.