For good reason, too.

The Bears ground announcer paid tribute to Orange CYMS player-coach Mick Sullivan as the five-time Group 10 premiership winner left the field with about 15 minutes to go.

The job was done, with CYMS up 54-4 at the time, but the Bears club took the opportunity to farewell one of the competition’s most decorated players.

It was praise well received by the crowd, and the green and gold faithful that made the trip to Blayney for the penultimate round clash responded with an ovation of their own in return.

Sullivan laid on CYMS’ second try of the game for Cam Jones and, from that point, was instrumental in the romp, the premiers running in a further 11 four-pointers – including three to winger Travis Adelerhof – as the green and golds’ ran riot in a 64-4 demolition of the Bears.

Sullivan’s pretty determined not to let the final weeks of 2018 become a farewell tour, the uber-competitive halfback instead focused on CYMS ending the year on a high.

But with next week the final regular season game at Wade Park for a player that’s achieved so much, it’s hard not to look back a little bit – Blayney certainly reminded the 38-year-old of that.

“It was nice from Blayney, I didn’t expect it, but it’s nice words. Nicer than some when I normally come off,” Sullivan smiled.

“I found myself before the Hawks game (last week) looking back through some stuff, which hasn’t happened before.

“But there’s a job at hand and these guys are doing everything they can to finish what we’ve started.

“The comp’s still alive for us, we just have to do our job. St Pat’s aren’t an easy team, Hawks or Cowra slip up in the last round and we do our job, who knows what can happen.”

In-form five-eighth Luke Petrie missed the trip to Blayney with a calf injury he picked up at training on Saturday.

His replacement was more than handy, though, and Dom Maley laid on tries for Kyle Fraser, Semisi Tupou and Jerome Harrison in the penultimate round victory.

Further tries to Jones, Joe Duffy, Ryan Griffin, Robbie Mortimer and a brace to Joe Lasagavibau accompanied Adelerhof’s first-half treble.

As good as CYMS were with the ball, Sullivan was more pleased with a 10 minute period where his side’s defence was tested.

And, as it did against Panthers and then last week against Hawks in the derby, the CYMS wall stood up to be counted, the only blemish a try to Bears winger Ryley Oborn mid-way through the second term.

Bears skipper Tim Mortimer lamented his side’s inconsistency in 2018, especially on the training paddock, but was proud of his troops nonetheless.

“We tried our hardest, and we always do, and that makes me proud to be part of this club,” Mortimer said.

“We couldn’t keep up with them but it was played in good spirits.”

It was also the first game Tim has played against youngest brother Robbie in, and the latter bagged a try right on the death chasing a Chris Grevsmuhl kick.

“I was chasing him down and I wanted to do a professional foul on him, but he wouldn’t have let me live that down,” Mortimer laughed.

“As an older brother, I’ll give him that one.”