Orange CYMS centre Isaac Cardwell lived out every footballer’s dream on Saturday, out-sprinting some desperate Lithgow Storm cover defence to score a golden-try four-pointer which sealed the group 10 under 15s premiership.

His last-gasp effort put an exclamation mark on one of the competition’s all-time classic deciders, with CYMS and Lithgow twice hearing a full-time bell – once at the end of normal time, and again at the end of 10 minutes of extra time – without being able to be split.

Cardwell’s try, his second for the game, was the last in a series of clutch plays from both sides, exemplified by goal kickers Lincoln Huia and Storm skipper Cooper Egan, who both slotted pressure-packed penalty goals during extra time.

VIDEO: CYMS’ Lincoln Huia’s pressure-packed strike …

Huia’s came first, and with just three minutes remaining, seemed certain to have secured the silverware. It was also, incredibly, the first time in almost 80 minutes of football that CYMS held the lead.

But moments later, Egan capitalised on a penalty against CYMS captain Jesse Buchan by steering his own attempt between the sticks, keeping his cool despite the bell ringing to signal the end of extra time as he was placing the ball on the tee.

VIDEO: Cooper Egan sends the game to extra-extra-time …

Sadly for Egan and his troops, it amounted to nothing, with Cardwell finishing off CYMS’ match-winning movement 10 minutes later, sending his teammates and the travelling hoard of green and gold supporters into raptures.

VIDEO: Isaac Cardwell’s incredible match-winner …

CYMS coach Cam Jones paid tribute to the efforts of both his own side and their bitterly disappointed opponents.

“It was an incredible game,” Jones said.

“I didn’t know if we were going to get there, it was so close. Both sides played well, they’re both good teams and neither deserved to lose.”

Lithgow, minor premiers and undefeated until a loss to CYMS in the major semi-final a fortnight ago, certainly started the better, and led after 10 minutes courtesy of a try to Zane Harrington and subsequent conversion to Egan.

But Cardwell’s first four-pointer and a Huia strike squared the ledger at six apiece by the break.

After the resumption, Lithgow’s Zac Irwin pounced on a mishandled grubber to once more put his side in the ascendancy, with Egan again striking purely to take the lead out to six.

VIDEO: CYMS hanging on in the second half …

But a piece of quick thinking – and even quicker footwork – by CYMS five-eighth Jack Cole turned the game just when it seemed the Storm’s grasp on the trophy seemed secure.

The pivot took a quick tap after his side was awarded a penalty, splitting the Storm defence before racing 60 metres to score under the sticks.

Replacement Liam Wilson made no mistake with the conversion, forcing what turned out to be just the first period of extra time when the referee’s whistle blew soon after.

Storm coach Ben Lane lamented a host of missed opportunities for his side, adding – with some justification – that his team had probably had the better of the game’s running.

“We had our chance, but just did a couple of small things that cost us,” he said.

“We knocked on over the line, and a few other times came close but did the wrong things, but that’s what happens in grand finals.

“All credit to CYMS, they held their nerve and got across the line.”

Cardwell, speaking after the presentation ceremony, was keen to deflect attention away from his last-minute heroics and place it at the feet of his teammates.

“I was always confident we would win. We have such a great team, and everyone kept digging in,” he said.

VIDEO: CYMS gets the party started …

Giving some solace to the disappointed Lithgow contingent, their tireless lock forward Cooper Nunan was named man of the match, a popular and, to this judge’s eyes, correct decision.

The dynamic and hard-running Nunan received great support from fellow back-rower Kye Cameron, with Egan also a standout for the Storm.

For the winners, Buchan was a constant threat in attack, while front-rower Kaeden Dickson pushed himself through a mountain of work, and was named CYMS’ best on ground by a pool of senior club players in the crowd.