Panthers carried a 14 point advantage into half-time before a vastly improved CYMS applied the pressure with a relentless barrage from their forward pack.

The hosts went into survival mode for much for the second term, especially during a period where they were down to 12 men, but their defence proved enough to get them home.

"With one bloke off the field and with them playing unreal footy and throwing everything at us it was a big effort to hold them out," Panthers player-coach Doug Hewitt said.

"That first half was full of what we've been working on. It's become a bit of a habit though to have these good starts and then plateauing through the middle.

"We're still finding ways to win, despite that, which says a lot about the team's character."

The CYMS error count will be the biggest talking point for their player-coach Dom Maley.

"We put our heads down when they scored one try and they ended up putting three on us pretty quickly," Maley said.

"Our completions in that first half were five out of 10. Fifty per cent isn't good enough and that's what cost us. In the second half it was 10 out of 13.

"We've got potential as a side. We've just got to hold the ball. We've come close to them, and Hawks, but we're still finding ourselves in a battle for the top five."

Although CYMS' first 40 minutes was one to largely forget, Maley's men posted first points via a now customary Ryan Griffin four-pointer out of dummy-half.

Panthers eventually hit back though, and when they did the response was a flurry with Louis Murphy, Mack Atkins, Josh Small and Jed Betts crossing to gift the defending champions a 20-6 lead at the break.

CYMS came out the stronger side in the second half, led by the likes of Cam Jones and Ethan Bereyne, and were rewarded with a much-needed try 10 minutes in.

Panthers didn't learn their lesson from the previous time Griffin was at dummy half, allowing him to dive across from close range again for his second try.

A window of opportunity opened up for CYMS when Willie Wright was sent to the sin bin and they used it well.

Ben McAlpine latched onto the end of a chip kick to score a try, and converted it himself to bring the deficit down to two points.

The margin disappeared with a McAlpine penalty goal inside the final 14 minutes.

When it appeared the CYMS momentum would never cease it finally did at the hands of Murray.

The Panthers centre brought the crowd to life when he barged over for the home side's first try of the half.

When a wright field goal attempt bumped into the right post it kept the Orange men in the match.

Lachie Munro had a last gasp effort inside the final minute of play but he was held up over the line.