Lithgow Workies have booked their place in the Group 10 first division major semi-final against minor premiers Bathurst Panthers after a tight 22-20 win over Orange CYMS on Saturday.
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The first division side now hold all of Lithgow’s hopes for Group 10 silverware after their premier league and league tag counterparts bowed out on the weekend.
The victory in the qualifying semi-final gives Workies a little bit of breathing space and two shots to qualify for the grand final.
Conversely, Orange CYMS have been forced into sudden death football from now on starting with a clash against Bathurst St Pat’s next Sunday.
The green and golds put in a monumental effort after arriving in Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sporting Complex with only three reserves.
After losing player-coach Kyran Bubb to a hamstring injury five minutes in, the side was forced to play the remainder of the game with just 15 men.
Despite that, CYMS didn’t just keep in touch with Workies, they went within inches of pulling off a remarkable win.
It wasn’t to be though, Lithgow just edging home 22-20 in a nail-biter.
Lithgow had taken a 4-0 lead by the time Bubb was forced from the field, but CYMS hooker Sam Hill cancelled that out with a 10th minute try, which Jayden Fahey converted to give CYMS a two-point lead.
That buffer didn’t last long, with Darcy Allan and Ben Glasson crossing for Workies in the 20th and 25th minutes respectively.
Nick Gardner-Miller converted both to take the score to 16-6, where it stayed until after the half-time break.
Orange CYMS roared back into the game directly after the break.
James Mortimer scored three minutes after half-time, Fahey converting to slash the gap to just four points.
Fahey went over himself next, just five minutes later, he had the chance to put his side two points up, but the conversion attempt sailed wide and the clash remained locked at 16-16.
The two sides threw everything at each other in a bid to win back the upper hand, which Lithgow did with 15 to go when Allan scored his second.
In what was ultimately a telling kick, Gardner-Miller slotted the conversion to give Workies the lead by a converted try.
Continuing to defy the odds CYMS stayed in the game, sending several attacking raids at the Lithgow outfit.
Eventually Workies cracked and Alex Fisher dived over to cut the deficit to just two points but the conversion attempt, which would’ve locked the game up, sailed wide and Lithgow closed out the 22-20 win.
Workies will travel to Carrington Park to meet the Bathurst Panthers this Saturday.