BATHURST Panthers enjoy sitting above defending premiers Orange CYMS on the Group 10 premier league ladder but will have to fight hard to keep things that way this Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A single point keeps Panthers ahead of CYMS going into the game at Wade Park and the clustered situation inside the competition’s top five adds to the occasion.
There’s also a parallel between the clubs in the way their seasons have played out.
At the best, both Panthers and CYMS have produced stellar attacking football but they’ve each suffered their share of lapses in between all of those encouraging moments.
For CYMS that was evident in an 18-8 loss to Oberon Tigers and for Panthers their weaker finish let them down in a 32-18 defeat to Cowra Magpies.
Sunday’s game is likely to become a test of consistency, something Panthers have been chasing for too long.
“Heading into the end of the season you obviously want to be up there on the ladder but playing against CYMS makes that harder,” Panthers captain-coach Doug Hewitt said.
“CYMS are one of those teams that when they’re on they’re on in a big way. Consistency is the big thing this year. They’ve had a couple of injuries and have been missing a few blokes.
“For us it’s about getting our starts going, because we’ve been finishing well all year. But last week we started alright then a couple of bounces of the ball didn’t go our way and we didn’t finish off too good.
“If we’re both on then it’s going to be an interesting game.”
History suggests Hewitt is bang on the money with that comment.
Panthers were too good for CYMS in a 24-22 thriller earlier this season.
The clubs have had a knack of providing spectators with some of Group 10’s most memorable contests over the past couple of years.
Their last meeting in 2017 was a 30-all draw at Carrington Park and in the prior season’s finals series CYMS snatched a 22-20 win at the death.
CYMS are one of those teams that when they’re on they’re on in a big way.
- Doug Hewitt
If Panthers can bring the level of football they displayed in the opening half against Cowra then they will be in good stead against a classy CYMS.
Hewitt said getting on top of the kicking game of CYMS captain-coach Mick Sullivan is high on the priority list.
“Sully controls the game really well in every game I’ve played against him. His kicking game can turn things around. It can often come down to your blokes at the back getting you off to a good start in a new set,” he said.
“We need to be dominant through the middle, like we have been all this year. We just need to be getting into a good position from our kick returns.”
Hewitt isn’t too concerned about last round’s loss against Cowra and believes there were encouraging signs scattered throughout the 80 minutes.
“It felt like a really tough game to be a part of. People I’ve talked to who watched the game said it looked like a tough game out there,” he said.
“Both teams were right in the game but they got momentum towards the end. I don’t think we did a lot wrong in that game but we need to start with a bit more energy in this game.”
CYMS sit level with Oberon Tigers at 17 points.
Panthers have already secured a top five spot. A win for the CYMS will also give them a finals appearance.
