Based on the first 20 minutes of Sunday’s Group 10 premier league grand final rematch, you’d have been forgiven for thinking Mudgee was going to run rampant against Orange CYMS.
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Perfect execution, lightning-fast play the balls and superb ball movement gave the Dragons a lead, albeit a narrow two-point one, and they looked every bit a team capable of handing CYMS their first loss of 2017.
But for the other 60 minutes at Wade Park it was CYMS’ show.
More specifically, Mick Sullivan and Cam Jones’ show.
After the Dragons inexplicably dropped off and handed CYMS their hard-earned momentum, the pair were outstanding as their side stormed home to win 40-14 and maintain its unbeaten status.
CYMS’ captain-coach ended the game with three of his side’s seven tries while Jones scored one, but more importantly ate metres, finding space on more than one occasion thanks to his silky footwork at the line.
“It’s actually the first hat-trick I’ve scored out here, so it’s nice to get one in CYMS’ colours,” Sullivan smiled.
“But those tries came from the great work our guys in the middle were doing, particularly Cam, he’s a freak. He was outstanding again, really stepped up.”
After trailing 8-6 at the 20-minute mark CYMS ran in three tries to one in the back end of the first half to lead 24-14 at the break.
The hosts scored another three unanswered four-pointers in the second half, to secure the 26-point victory, which moves them one step closer to the minor title.
“Mudgee were a bit like Hawks, they were physical and hard and they thought that was the go but they can chew their tank that way. Luckily we withstood it, got the upper hand and then played some pretty methodical football and completed sets,” Sullivan said.
”With that two points and the margin it gives us the extra buffer from (Bathurst) Panthers. We’d have to lose two of our last three games to miss out on the minor premiership I think.”
Mudgee coach Peter Hickman lamented his side’s inability to stay on top of the contest, but lauded Sullivan and his troops too.
“CYMS aren’t leading the competition for no reason, they’ve got a great system in place and executed well,” he said.
“We fell away. Even at half-time I thought we were right in it, we had a bit of a breeze there we could run with in the second half but it wasn’t to be.
“We’ll go home, lick the wounds and try and get ready for the next month. It does give us a good gauge of where we are compared to CYMS.”
The two sides felt each other out in the opening stages, before Jones opened the scoring for CYMS on the back of a Dragons knock-on.
Mudgee answered back immediately though, after CYMS spilled the kick off.
Lee Hicks barged over and Jared Robinson scored for Mudgee two minutes later, again after a CYMS error.
Sam Wooden missed both kicks though, leaving the score at 8-6.
The Dragons didn’t let up, forcing a number of CYMS errors in the next 10 minutes and looking likely to extend that lead.
The crowd thought they had at the 20-minute mark, but it was held up, and that’s when the tide began to turn.
CYMS worked their way into the Dragons’ territory and Sullivan scored his first in the 24th minute, then Rob Mortimer went over in the 26th.
With two McAlpine conversions, just like that CYMS led 18-8, and then 24-8 after Tyrone Harrison – the young gun was electric from the bench – crossed eight out from half-time.
Mudgee cut the deficit to 10 on the stroke of half-time, through Corin Smith, which signalled potential for a second half resurgence.
CYMS put paid to that though, Sullivan scoring his second two minutes after the restart.
It was a stunning phase of play too.
Running on the fifth from their own 40-metre line, CYMS spread it to Lachie Munro’s wing.
He had no room to find his counterpart’s outside shoulder, so he chipped and regathered, then chipped again.
McAlpine cleaned the second one up, flicked it over his shoulder, it went through Brenden Cousins’ legs and popped up perfectly to a flying Sullivan, who crossed just to the right of the sticks.
Dom Maley scored not long after and then Sullivan picked up his third 17 out from full-time.
Mudgee hooker Ben Thompson, who was standing in at fullback, attempted to let Sullivan’s chip kick bounce over the dead ball line, but CYMS’ mentor had other ideas.
He snuck up on Thompson, got under him and planted it down to complete his treble and seal the 26-point win.
The win could prove costly for CYMS though, Sullivan will be forced to seriously test his club’s depth after a couple of stars suffered injuries while Joe Lasagavibau was also put on report for a high shot.
“Timmy Mortimer’s hurt his ankle, we’re hoping it’s just a sprain and Bronx Goodwin looks like he’s suffered a compound fracture in his wrist,” Sullivan said.
“Brenden Cousins has a nasty gash so he might have to sit out as well, we don’t want that opening up every game. We’ll be testing our depth, I think there’ll be a few missing next week against Oberon.
“I thought the Mudgee guy was falling into the tackle a bit so I thought Joey was a bit unlucky to be put on report but we’ll leave that up to the judiciary. Hopefully he’s okay though.”
- ORANGE CYMS 40 (Mick Sullivan 3, Rob Mortimer, Cam Jones, Tyrone Harrison, Dom Maley tries; Ben McAlpine 6 goals) def MUDGEE DRAGONS 14 (Corin Smith, Lee Hicks, Jared Robinson tries; Hicks goal)