ORANGE CYMS has claimed a history-defining fourth Group 10 title in six seasons, securing the 2015 title with a 14-10 triumph over a gallant Lithgow Workies at Wade Park.
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Unfortunately for the spectacle, its final scenes turned farcical as six players - Simon Osborne, Ben McAlpine and Scott Sullivan for CYMS and Corey Willmott, Pale Ale and Chris Rhodes for Workies - were all sent off for their part in a final seconds stink that soured what was a gripping grand final.
The four-point decider win rockets CYMS into elite company, with the only other team in Group 10 premiership history to claim more titles in a six year period being the goliath Oberon outfit that earned 10 crowns in 11 years from 1961 to 1971.
"It was really satisfying," player-coach Mick Sullivan said, himself part of wins in 2010, 2011, 2013 and now 2015.
"Until that last little incident; the three sent off. It's really disappointing.
"Group 10 has been cleaner and it's disappointing ... it's meant so much, emotion overflowed there at the end.
"Lithgow wanted it just as bad as us, (but) home ground (advantage) got us home.
"It's a really special moment for the club. I'm really pleased for the club."
VIDEO: What the coaches had to say after full time:
Sullivan was sublime in the victory, saving his best game of the 2015 season for the only real fixture that counts.
He scored the game's opener after 28 minutes, fortuitously regathering his own grubber kick after it copped a deflection off a Lithgow player's leg to dive over under the posts.
Then with the score locked at 6-all in the 51st minute after Brendon Van Veen scored Workies' first try - Wayde Egan's chip and chase in the lead up was a special effort - Sullivan dummied, went straight through a gap and chipped ahead for a flying Tim Bassmann to score a classic grand final four-pointer.
It was Bassmann's first try of the 2015 season and it proved a massive turning point in the game, coming immediately after Brendon Van Veen was ruled to have knocked the ball on over the line by referee Jason Whitney.
VIDEO: Orange CYMS celebrate their grand final win:
A correct call, it was still an eight-point swing in CYMS' favour.
Egan scored to tie things up again with 22 minutes remaining at 10-all, before Matt Rose left his mark on the contest.
With 12 minutes left to play and CYMS on the attack, Rose drifted right then drifted left before finding McAlpine, who then passed to a flying Bassmann who, in turn, popped a wonderful off-load to Sam Hill to score what was the game-clincher in the 2015 decider.
McAlpine missed the conversion, but at 14-10 it didn't matter as CYMS held on to claim victory, albeit as the game turned ugly and both sides let emotions get the better of them.
Sullivan said it's a special feeling to be able to claim another title, the second in this run against Lithgow.
VIDEO: The full-time fight sees players walking into the sheds early:
"It's a pleasure," Sullivan said.
"I've grown to love the club, and I don't love too many things.
"This club has bought into me and I've bought into the club.
"To Lithgow ... they're a classic side in this era as well. It's always a dire struggle, I was that happy to get home."
Veteran prop Simon Osborne was immense for the hosts, playing 80 minutes in the frontrow against the giant Lithgow park.
If it weren't for his post-siren dismissal, he would have been a shoe-in for the man of the match award.
VIDEO: Orange CYMS match-winning try:
Equally, Brendon Van Veen was outstanding for Workies, laying on one try and scoring another in a powerful backrowers' game for Lithgow - he wouldn't have looked out of place receiving the Dave Scott medal either.
Dejected, Lithgow coach Graeme Osborne was shattered post-game.
"We didn't play really well. Some of the options we took were wrong, our kicking game was off all day and it's not very often you see a top grade side put the ball out twice off a kick restart," Osborne said.
"We were a little bit off, and to their credit, they stuck to their guns.
"It doesn't matter who the opposition is, losing always hurts."
"You can't control what's out of your own limits. It's just a good spectacle, and a loss."
ORANGE CYMS 14 (Tim Bassmann, Sam Hill, Mick Sullivan tries; Ben McAlpine goal) def LITHGOW WORKIES 10 (Wayde Egan, Brendon Van Veen tries; Jono Van Veen goal).