The green and golds chose the latter and, ultimately, it’s what secured them a win in a champagne game of rugby league.

In the 10 minute period Sullivan was off the paddock CYMS were flawless, utilising a wealth of possession to run in two tries, take the lead back from the gallant Dragons and as Sullivan said, “break their backs”.

“The boys played better without me, maybe we only need 12,” Sullivan laughed after his side secured the 30-20 win.

“I think it was that period, scoring twice with 12 really helped us break their backs in a tight tussle. It was a huge effort from our guys.

“We had a lot to play for, that win will go a long way to wrapping up a home semi-final for us,, it was a game we really didn’t want to lose.

“Mudgee led for a long time, credit to them, but once we kicked into gear I think fitness told in the back end of the game.”

In one of the most entertaining, physical games of rugby league Wade Park has hosted so far in 2016, Mudgee were the better side in the opening half hour and it showed on the scoreboard.

Although CYMS opened the scoring when Brock McGarity latched onto a Sullivan bomb in the 18^th minute the Orange players let themselves down with simple ball handling errors in that period, which allowed Mudgee to cross twice through Sam Wooden and Andy Laurie.

With Wooden kicking one goal the Dragons had a 10-0 lead after 29 minutes, it remained that way until half-time.

Sullivan was sin-binned one minute before the break for a professional foul, he obstructed Mudgee hooker Ben Thompson as he looked for a quick tap from a penalty.

That’s when CYMS lifted.

With their maestro off the field the green and golds reverted to simple, hard rugby league and it paid off. During that period props Cam Jones and Simon Osborne were particularly impressive.

Larsen Marabe scored off a James Wynne short ball in the 48^th minute and McAlpine scored two minutes later to give CYMS an 18-10 lead.

They never looked like relinquishing it after that, even when Mudgee winger Jack Beasley crossed in the corner in the 57^th minute to cut the deficit to four.

McGarity scored his second in the 63^rd minute and then Kain Earsman crossed in the 67^th, on the back of a Sullivan 40-20, to extend CYMS’ lead to 16 at 30-14.

Mudgee held possession for the entire final 10 minutes, it took until the 80^th for CYMS to break when Jack Afamasaga gobbled up a Wooden kick and planted it down for a last minute consolation try.

Beasley kicked it on the bell to see the scoreline finish 30-20.

Sullivan highlighted that defensive effort, along with his side’s performance without the ball through the entire game, as another much-winning factor.

The victory keeps the green and golds in top spot with just a handful of games to go and considering they play Orange Hawks and Blayney in two of their last three games, CYMS now have one hand on the 2016 minor premiership.

Mudgee skipper and fullback Jared Robinson was disappointed in the loss, but remained upbeat after the game considering how big a show the Dragons gave the green and golds.

He also lauded his side for bouncing back from its last two games, where the Dragons sacrificed big leads against Bathurst St Pat’s and then the Oberon Tigers to be forced into draws.

Although, Robinson conceded, it did look as though Mudgee had dozed off again while Sullivan was off the field.

“It is disappointing to lose, you’re never pleased with a loss but I am pleased with the performance we put in [on Sunday], especially after the last two weeks,” Robinson said.

“We’ve really let ourselves down in the last couple of games so to come over to Orange and put in an effort like that is pleasing, apart from that 10 minute period there.

“CYMS are first for a reason and they scored a few tries there on the back of our own silly, little errors. Three tries is a lot to try and make up against a side like that, but it was pleasing to see us fight until the end and come back a bit as well.”

ORANGE CYMS 30 (Brock McGarity 2, Kain Earsman, Larsen Marabe, Ben McAlpine tries; McAlpine 5 goals) def MUDGEE DRAGONS 20 (Jack Beasley, Jack Afamasaga, Sam Wooden, Andy Laurie tries; Wooden, Beasley goals)