The green and golds welcomed Bassmann – who won titles with CYMS in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 – back to Orange’s premier sporting facility by running in nine tries to two to record 40 plus points for the third consecutive game and the fifth time this season.

“It was always going to be tough coming over here, especially when CYMS have that kind of team,” Bassmann said

“It was just a lack of execution [on Sunday]. We didn't get to our spots on the field, didn’t complete, we were running one out. That kind of thing.”

Outside a couple of pushed passes and ball handling errors in the opening half, Sunday was arguably CYMS’ best performance of the season and captain-coach Mick Sullivan was understandably pleased after full-time.

“I’m very happy, these 40ish-point wins aren’t easy on a boggy ground (and) it was just about our best start to a game this year,” he said.

“Normally we’re sort of slow starters but that first 10 minutes or so was really good, it was quite methodical and I guess that’s how we’ll need to be next week in the top-of-the-table clash against (Bathurst) Panthers on the road.”

Remarkably, CYMS had every single player in the club – across all grades – available for Sunday’s game, which left Sullivan with some serious selection headaches leading in.

“It’s the strongest we’ve been and it’s a luxury we haven’t had in the last couple of seasons,” he said.

“Sam Hill came back in and didn’t miss a beat and Dom Maley, we’ve been managing him. There’s a lot of competition for spots.”

Maley scored the opening try on Sunday on the back of a Tim Mortimer line break through the middle, before he made a line break of his own in an identical play and put Ben McAlpine over.

McAlpine kicked both conversions but missed when Brock McGarity scored four minutes later, CYMS still led 16-0 after just 10 minutes.

Calls of a bloodbath from the crowd seemed to be premature after Zac Browne scored Cowra’s first in the 23^rd minute but CYMS hit back immediately though Larsen Marabe. McAlpine missed from straight in front and CYMS’ 20-6 lead remained that way until after half-time after Cowra had a try contentiously disallowed on the stroke of half-time.

Despite Desi Doolan getting over the line it was brought back for a penalty 10 metres out, the Magpies couldn’t find a way over again.

With the Magpies tiring, Semisi Katoa scored a second half double, Maley and McAlpine both scored again and Ryan Griffin grabbed a four-pointer too. The Magpies managed a consolation try when Toby Nobes grubbered through for himself in the final minute, which Caley Mok converted to see the final score finish at 48-12.

Perhaps the highlight of the second half though was when CYMS prop Cam Jones, spotting an opportunity thanks to a small scuffle kicking off, scooped the ball up and sprinted up field.

With no Cowra players in sight Jones pinned his ears back only to realise the whistle had been blown and the game stopped as he picked the ball up, providing the crowd a mirthful moment.

ORANGE CYMS 48 (Dom Maley 2, Semisi Katoa 2, Ben McAlpine 2, Brock McGarity, Larsen Marabe, Ryan Griffin tries; McAlpine 6 goals) def COWRA MAGPIES 12 (Zac Browne, Toby Nobes tries; Caley Mok 2 goals)