THE boot of Bathurst Panthers fullback Jeremy Gordon came within just a few feet of ending Orange CYMS’ unbeaten run in Group 10 premier league on Sunday.
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Panthers had rallied back from 26-8 down to draw level with CYMS inside the final three minutes at Carrington Park.
Gordon’s attempt, inside the final 10 seconds, drifted just right of the posts.
In was an appropriate scoreline to end a brutal, physical contest between the competition’s top two teams.
“We knew it could turn because they had all the ball in the first half,” Panthers coach Todd Barrow said.
“We made it harder for ourselves with our completions and unforced errors but to the boys’ credit they knew they had the points in them to get themselves back into the game, and they did that.”
CYMS opened the scoring 15 minutes into the game when Joe Duffy latched onto a dropped ball just 10m out from the Panthers line.
Jake Betts produced a superb offload to Jeremy Gordon, allowing the hosts to quickly reply and bring the scores back to 6-4.
Errors prevented Panthers from making any ground. With 12 minutes until the break CYMS looked certain to find a way over when they enjoyed a full set close to the Bathurst try line.
Instead, Mick Sullivan’s pass to the right wing was picked off by Kade Barrow who raced 90 metres down the field to score.
CYMS didn’t let that stumble ruin their rhythm as they dominated the rest of the half.
A fantastic team play was finished off by Joey Lasagavibau before a pinpoint precise kick from Sullivan found the hands of Tom Satterthwaite by the corner post.
Ben McAlpine then waltzed through soft Panthers defence in the middle of the park and found his hooker Sam Hill in support.
Panthers went into half-time down 22-8 and things soon got worse for the Bathurst side when Claude Gordon was sent to the sin bin just five minutes into the new half.
CYMS utilised the extra man advantage, scoring through Brenden Cousins.
Panthers were able to hit back despite having just 12 men on field. Jeremy Gordon broke through for a try to bring the score back to 26-12.
Intensity kicked up a notch for Panthers when they had a full side back on field.
Joey Bugg finished off a creative piece of Panthers team play before Claude Gordon found a big gap in the CYMS defence to make it 26-24 in the visitors’ favour.
CYMS threatened to break Panthers’ hearts when Bronx Goodwin scored inside the final 10 seconds, but McAlpine’s missed sideline conversion kept the Panthers in it.
Panthers didn’t lose their enthusiasm and levelled it up through Blake Seager inside the final three minutes.
Jye Barrow’s conversion just sneaked inside the right upright.
“We had a lot of injuries towards the end there so to hold on for a draw is not the worst result for us. We had a few walking wounded and we lost Brock McGarity early,” Sullivan said.