A BEN McAlpine penalty goal, shrewdly potted early in the game, proved the difference in Orange CYMS' Group 10 premier league, top-of-the-table clash with Lithgow Workies on Friday night.

The green and golds ran out 16-14 victors, keeping their unbeaten run intact and breaking Lithgow's undefeated record in the process.

The game - originally marked down for round three before a waterlogged Tony Luchetti Sportsground forced a reschedule - was played in typically freezing Lithgow conditions, and turned into a brutal contest which CYMS player-coach Mick Sullivan was relieved his troops triumphed in.

"It was pretty brutal in terms of the weather, it was cold down there, but it was the same for both sides obviously," CYMS player-coach Mick Sullivan said.

"We actually scored the first points with that penalty goal. It's never an easy trip coming to Lithgow, especially when we lost a couple of players for various reasons.

"It's good to come down here and get away with a win."

McAlpine, CYMS' skipper, made no mistake with the early shot at goal and after Sullivan, barnstorming prop Logan Pocklington and wily hooker Sam Hill all crossed the stripe the green and golds looked set to seriously buffer their points difference with a big win.

But, as good teams do, Lithgow roared back into the contest in the second half, to the point where the clash was poised for a grandstand finish at 16-14.

The understrength CYMS side held on to claim the two points though, and with it, the outright competition lead. The undefeated green and golds now sit two points clear on top of the table after eight rounds.

"Lithgow actually missed a chance at goal earlier in the game too, from about five metres to the side of the posts," Sullivan said.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game, it always is down here. I was particularly impressed with the guys on our bench, and our forwards.

"They were pretty well outweighed by the Lithgow pack, but they stuck it to them the whole game, it really turned into a war of attrition."

ORANGE CYMS 16 (Mick Sullivan, Logan Pocklington, Sam Hill tries; Ben McAlpine goal, pen goal) def LITHGOW WORKIES 14