With seven minutes remaining during Saturday's Group 10 showdown between Bathurst Panthers and Orange Hawks, two blues' halfback Toby Westcott had the chance to tie the scores at 18-all with a kick from the sideline.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As Wade Park faithful watched on in suspense, the young playmaker hit it sweetly as it looked on track to sail over the black dot.
But instead of sailing over it, the Steeden clanged off the centre of the cross-bar and bounced back towards the field of play.
The opportunity would be Hawks' last to snatch the game from the premiers as the men in black held on for a gritty 18-16 victory in boggy conditions.
The match was a far cry from the side's previous meeting at Mudgee when Panthers wiped the floor with Hawks 48-0.
In fact, the home side flew out of the gates with back-to-back tries to Saul Houma and Mitch Watts, but Bathurst hit back with a pair of their own as Desi Doolan and Jedd Betts found the line.
Hawks took a two-point buffer into the dressing sheds, but it was Doug Hewitt's squad that did more damage in the 49th minute as winger Malik Blenman became the second outside back to pounce on a Hewitt grubber from close range.
After Hawks' enforcer Nathan Potts was sent to the sin-bin for a ruck infringement, Hewitt's boot made a further impact as a towering bomb saw fullbacks Ryan Manning and Josh Rivett collide in the air, with the ball bouncing into the in-goal for Abel Lefaoseu to pounce on in the 65th minute.
The collision caused Rivett to leave the field with what looked like a serious ankle injury.
Fortunately for Hawks, Hewitt botched the ensuing conversion from right in front of the sticks, leaving the door ajar for a comeback.
When Potts returned to the field, Hawks launched an assault at Panthers' territory and after Ethan McKellar danced across the field into space, he found a surging Ryan Manning who flicked it off to Duncan Young for a four-pointer... then came the aforementioned Westcott conversion.
The hosts tried hard to create more chances in the dying stages, but Panthers' defence was suffocating as Heta's troops ran out of time.
"They were impressive considering the score in the first game," Panthers' prop Dave Sellers said.
"Our game plan in the second half was to control the ball and get their bigger fellas moving. We backed our fitness to come over the top."
It was a clash of the titans in the middle as neither side lacked star power in the forward packs. The muddy conditions also turned the game into a middle thirds battle, rather than a shootout between the backs.
Sellers, who was excited to see his side bounce back from a loss to Mudgee last week, says his men might have fallen victim to a soft part in their schedule.
"No disrespect to Lithgow, but we've played them twice in five weeks and we've also had two byes," he said.
"The Mudgee hit out was our first tough game in a while, and then there was that one. We'll get better as we get into the back half of the season."
Every side has faced each other at least once so far, so the Central Western Daily as the Group 10 journeyman who the most formidable side is.
Sellers took the high road.
"I know it's cliche but whoever you face on the day is the most dangerous," he said.
"Mudgee obviously beat us and then we only just got away with today."
As for the Hawks' point of view, a disappointing Toby Westcott reflected on proceedings after the match.
"We had no ball," he said.
"We defended the whole time and there were a couple of times where we defended 12 or 13 plays in-a-row and then they scored off a kick.
"We're a better side than that. As a half I probably take a lot of ownership on that. Couple of kicks that didn't go out, a couple of last play options that didn't go right.
"Our job is to steer the boys around and you know, I probably failed at that today I think but we've got a lot to build on and we showed a lot of heart today I thought."
Westcott spoke about the crucial conversion that ultimately decided the outcome of the contest.
"That's just something that happens," he said.
"You go back and practice it. No excuses, mate. We'll be right."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.centralwesterndaily.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Catch up on our news headlines at Google News
HAVE YOUR SAY
Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...