ORANGE CYMS have maintained a four-point buffer at the top of the Group 10 ladder courtesy of a 26-10 victory over the Bears in Blayney.

Played in misty rain for the entire contest at King George Oval on Sunday, the undermanned hosts stuck with the minor premiership favourites for the entirety of the first 40 minutes, scoring first through Ryan Oborn before entering the half-time break with a 10-8 lead thanks to a Casey Wallace try.

But, like all good sides do, CYMS lifted when it counted most.

And, crucially, they managed to do so without the ball in hand.

Player-coach Mick Sullivan lauded his side's defence, which held strong throughout the second stanza to shut out the Bears, while tries to Sam Hill, Tim Mortimer, Simon Osborne and Ben McAlpine - his second for the match - completed the 16-point win over the fourth-placed Bears.

"Defensively we were great," Sullivan said.

"We kept pushing up on the inside, and towards the middle of the second half I think Blayney ran out of options. They turned the ball over a bit and we capitalised at the end."

Matt Rose shone at five-eighth for the green and golds, causing the Bears plenty of headaches down the short side.

While defensively, Sullivan was rapt with Kyran Bubb.

Dylan Wood was also strong in his premier league debut on the wing.

CYMS now face Cowra at home before a massive two weeks leading into the semi-finals where the green and golds will firstly travel to Mudgee to play the Dragons before hosting premiers Bathurst St Pat's in the final round at Wade Park.

CYMS sit on 26 points, while Mudgee is second on 22 points, ahead of Lithgow (22) on for and against only.

After a cracking first round of the season, Blayney (20) has somewhat slipped to sit fourth and faces the real possibility of ending the regular season in fifth should the fast finishing Saints (18) continue to storm home.

Sullivan said despite the weather stunting CYMS' work with the ball on Sunday, the green and golds must lift in attack over the coming weeks.

"Last week I thought we were quite good and this week, it was what it was," he said.

"We were a bit scrappy and eratic at times but our defence got us over the line."

ORANGE CYMS 26 (Ben McAlpine 2, Sam Hill, Tim Moritmer, Semisi Katoa, Simon Osborne tries; Ben McAlpine goal) def BLAYNEY BEARS 10 (Ryan Oborn, Casey Wallace tries; Cameron Dennis goal).