Pitting two pretty evenly-matched teams against one another at Wade Park, St Pat’s effort without the ball proved the only stark difference between the two outfits.

Although some handling errors didn’t help CYMS’ cause, St Pat’s defence under plenty of pressure in the second half was impressive.

After heading into the break locked at 6-6, then falling behind 10-6, St Pat’s conceded no more points and on the back of that crossed three times in the back end of the game to win.

“Defence was something we spoke about during the week, we had it pretty easy against Oberon (in the elimination semi-final) but knew CYMS would come hard, being do-or-die,” St Pat’s co-coach Ben Hagney said.

“Now it’s Panthers next week, they only lost one game all year outside [Saturday] so they’re a very good side. It was a bit surprising they got beaten (in the major semi-final) actually. We’ll go back and work hard, see how we go.

“We’re looking forward to it.”

The loss bounces CYMS out in straight sets, the green and golds suffering defeat to Lithgow in last weekend’s qualifying final as well.

Neither side gave an inch during a brutal first half, which finished deadlocked.

It was an arm-wrestle, to say the least, a supremely physical one too.

With both sides employing the somewhat simplistic brand that’s oft synonymous with reserve grade, it took a full 17 minutes before the scorers were troubled.

That came through a St Pat’s four-pointer, back-rower Nick Miller barging over on the back of a penalty. Chris Osborne nailed the kick, giving the Saints a 6-0 lead.

CYMS gifted St Pat’s possession and territory with another three straight penalties, but the Saints couldn’t make the hosts pay.

In fact, it was CYMS that scored next, in their first set back in possession.

They picked up a penalty and rolled through the middle, before James Mortimer sliced through on the halfway line. He picked up Sam Hill in support, who cruised over with 10 minutes left in the half.

Jayden Fahey slotted the conversion to lock things up, before giving his side the lead straight after the break.

Two minutes into the second half Fahey dived over in the right corner. He missed the sideline shot, leaving CYMS’ lead at 10-6.

It seemed just a matter of time until the green and golds scored again too as they began controlling proceedings, but handling errors in attacking positions let them down on several occasions.

They gave St Pat’s chances too, which the Saints took. Jack Mackay dived on a grubber from hooker Jared Colling in the 46th minute, Osborne nailing the straight-forward conversion to St Pat’s two points in front.

After another 10 minutes of the two sides bashing each other a penalty for an old-fashioned coat-hanger gifted the Saints a chance, which again, they took.

With a four-on-one overlap, Shannon Peters kicked into the space, Jack Grant cruising onto the kick and crossing.

Osborne nailed the sideline conversion, a crucial one considering it gave his side a two-score lead at 18-10.

CYMS looked to have slashed that gap with a four-pointer five out from full-time, but it was ruled a knock-on.

The Saints scored again on the buzzer, through Harrison Jones, Osborne kicking the goal to seal the 14-point win.

BATHURST ST PAT’S (Nick Miller, Jack Mackay, Jack Grant, Harrison Jones tries; Chris Osborne 4 goals) def ORANGE CYMS 10 (Sam Hill, Jayden Fahey tries; Fahey goal)