Bathurst Panthers' hold on the Group 10 premier league ladder has been relinquished after the Lithgow Workies claimed a 16-6 win in a match skipper Doug Hewitt labelled "disgusting".
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It was the Panthers first defeat since May, while Lithgow's win continues its impressive charge into the final, the club's seven consecutive win.
And while Panthers were the last team to defeat Workies - back on May 26 at Carrington Park - it was the Lithgow side that won on its own paddock at the Tony Luchetti Sportsground.
Hewitt was not pleased with how the referee controlled the game.
"It got out of hand in the first half, the ref never had control from the get-go," Hewitt said.
"It was probably the worst spectacle to watch all year."
Hewitt said the team's focus would now turn to getting its players back to fitness, with several suffering suspected concussions.
Jake Betts' jaw would also need to be assessed for a break, he said.
"In the end it was just dangerous out there for anyone involved," he said.
"We're not too worried about the loss in itself, more worried about the injuries and getting everyone healthy again for next week.
"It doesn't hurt to lose a game every now and then to keep you on your toes, but that out there today, it wasn't just losing a game, your more worried about the welfare of everyone out there."
Lithgow coach Graeme Osborne said with his side aiming for seven in a row and playing in front of their home crowd for the last time in the regular season, the boys had plenty to play for.
"We trained really hard all week, worked out what Panthers were playing and I think we defended it really well," he said.
It was a tight game from the get-go, with Workies scoring an early try and Panthers levelling the scores going into half-time.
It was all the Workies in the second half, however, as they showed some determined defence to keep the Panthers out and added another two tries.
Osborne said ball control continued to be an issue for the Workies squad but he was pleased with the solid attack on show.
"There's a lot of hands in the ruck, whether they were penalties or lost balls... It's hard in country footy, you haven't got so many eyes on the game, but I thought our ball control coming out of our exit sets was a bit tardy.
"We pride ourselves on getting to our kicks and I don't think we got that."
He called out a big contribution from Matty Swift for his enormous individual defensive effort to come from the opposite side of the field and chase down Josh Rivett, who looked set to score an individual try.
"You talk about one percenters... They're the little efforts that really pick you up."
Greg Alderson made a big contribution coming back from the flu to play and picking up a try, while Josh Howarth had a big game at the back.
Workies' forward Tui Oloapu will be assessed for a strained calf after going off in the second half.
- LITHGOW WORKIES 16 (Jack Sullivan, Cody Godden, Greg Alderson, Josh Howarth 2 goals) defeated BATHURST PANTHERS 6 (Jack Siejka tries; Josh Rivett goal)