CYMS did it for their late coach

THE three Commins brothers said winning the Group 10 premiership for their late coach Bob Lindfield was the motivation behind Orange CYMS' success in 1959.

The three brothers, Tom, Luke and Pat, were at Kelly's Hotel yesterday reminiscing about the old days ahead of CYMS' 60th anniversary celebrations this weekend.

In 1958, CYMS won the Group 10 premiership against Oberon (17-6) and Western Challenge Cup under Lindfield, with the Commins brothers all in the side.

But when Lindfield died midway through the 1959 season and five-eighth Lloyd Davidson took over the coaching role, CYMS had extra motivation to win back-to-back titles.

"We were just at training one night and Bob had a heart attack," said Luke, who was part of four premierships with CYMS in the 1950s.

"We raced him to Orange Base Hospital but he died a few days later.

"So that was a bit more reason to win the grand final."

In the grand final against Lithgow Workmen's Club it was winger Tom who scored the winning try in the 5-4 win in wet conditions at Bathurst Sportsground.

"I remember that last one very well," Pat said. "It rained and it rained and it was that wet."

With CYMS trailing Tom, who in 1975 was named in the greatest Group 10 side since 1950, used the wet conditions to his advantage.

"The ball looked like it was going to go out," Tom said. "But it held up in the water, so I toed it through, picked the ball up and just fell over the line."

CYMS' anniversary will start with a get-together at Kelly's Hotel tomorrow night, before the main dinner at Kenna Hall on Saturday, starting at 7pm. Tickets are $35 and available from Kelly's Hotel and Sportsco.