Orange CYMS scored a massive win over Bathurst Panthers yesterday, but the Group 10 premier league clash finished with the crowd at Wade Park collectively holding their breath as referee Nick Lander blew full-time with 15 minutes still to play.

CYMS winger Luke Kilkeary was knocked out in a tackle and was unable to be moved until an ambulance arrived, forcing Lander to call time on the game with CYMS leading 36-10, and a quarter of an hour left on the clock.

Kilkeary had already scored a hat-trick in CYMS’ under 18 fixture earlier in the afternoon, and hadn’t looked out of place in his premier league debut until he was knocked out attempting to make a tackle on his opposite number.

The result effectively ended Panthers’ season, but understandably there were more important things on the minds of those involved.

Prior to the game being called off, the table-topping green and golds ran riot on the lowly Panthers, dominating every facet of the game on their way to the 26-point victory.

The two sides traded four pointers in the opening exchanges, with five-eighth Matt Rose crossing for CYMS in the fourth minute, and Panthers’ centre Blake Lawson hitting back for his side in the eighth.

However, after Lawson crossed, CYMS shifted up a gear and went over twice more in the first half through Wayne Collett and Ben McAlpine. 

The latter’s try came straight from Orange Hawks’ playbook, with Rose kicking on the first tackle from a scrum inside his own half. 

Panthers’ halfback Joe Bugg won the race, but dropped his lollies, letting McAlpine swoop on the loose ball.

McAlpine knocked all three conversions over, giving CYMS an 18-4 lead at half-time, and, despite a late Panthers rally, the floodgates were threatening to open.

They did just that in the second period, with Collett grabbing his second and Kyran Bubb and Cam Jones also grabbing tries before the game was called. 

Panthers’ big-bopper Greg Behan scored on the back of a penalty as well, but it was to no avail as Kilkeary’s injury put a premature end to the game.

Panthers manager Danny Dwyer lauded CYMS’ performance, before conceding the loss all but stamps out his side’s slim finals hopes.

“I think we lacked a bit of intensity early in the game, and CYMS shifted the ball well and put us under pressure,” Dwyer said. “They scored a few tries from kicks which we didn’t defend very well. We were down on form, but overall I think CYMS were much stronger.”

“We struggled to get out of our own half at times and they put a lot of pressure on our defence.

“I think we’re probably a couple of good players away from being a top four side, but next year will be a better year for us considering the amount of young players we have.”

ORANGE CYMS 36 (Wayne Collett 2, Matt Rose, Kyran Bubb, Ben McAlpine, Cam Jones tries; McAlpine 6 goals) defeated BATHURST PANTHERS 10 (Blake Lawson, Greg Behan tries; Jeremy Gordon goal)