It was the Lithgow Workies Wolves U18's first run out as a team in the senior division, and despite going down 20-14 to the Orange Hawks, the side put in a mighty effort.

With the match being played in 15 minute quarters, Lithgow got off to a shaky start with a dropped ball in the first minute and a half, which gave the Hawks their first chance.

But the Lithgow defence held firm despite the continuous attack from the Orange side.

Then an intercept from Orange left centre, Jake Richie, from the half way mark saw Hawks take the first points of the match 10 minutes in.

But Lithgow wasn't going to let the Hawks get away so soon, and with some fancy footwork Zane Harrington managed to score in the corner with 40 seconds remaining in the quarter.

They couldn't quite even the score though, with a missed kick conversion.

Lithgow Workies coach Ben Lane said the match was good to work out where his side needs to be to stand a chance in the competition.

"I thought we were good in patches but our ball security let us down and stuff like that but I mean a 20-14 score line is not terrible," he said.

Hawks kept the pressure on and fullback Aiden Nunn finally found a hole in the Workies defence and scored with six minutes remaining in the half.

Lucky for Lithgow, the Orange side also missed a kick and so they went into half time 10-4.

The Workies then found their momentum in the second half, when they kept on the offensive.

Soon after they found their own hole in the Orange defence and Sam Lane managed to score next to the post.

Lithgow's Cooper Egan tied up the score with a successful conversion.

But after many silly mistakes, Hawks capitalised by crossing the line again, with Lithgow's defence nowhere to be found.

A successful conversion saw Hawks go into the lead 16-10.

Lane said his side hung in there but would be better prepared for the run next week.

"Overall I think we were our own worst enemy, we could have pretty easily won the game if we hung onto the ball and not given those few penalties away," he said.

The final quarter of the match saw both teams getting angsty with some push and shove happening on the field and a war of words between each side.

In the first three minutes Hawks five eight Mitch Watts put one in next to the posts, to stretch out their lead.

Another missed conversion helped Lithgow stay in the match.

A scrappy contest continued until Lithgow's halfback Cooper Nunan found some room and put a try in with seven minutes left in the game.

But with another conversion missed, Lithgow trailed by six.

Lane said that it was nice to have a small crowd come down to the match to cheer on the boys.

"Overall they [Orange Hawks] just did it better today than what we did," he said.

"We have to keep working, and adjust a few things but it's a tough competition and it's going to be like that every week so we've got to get used to it.

"We have a pretty young side so it's all a learning curve for them."

In the final minute of the match, Lithgow had the best opportunity to tie the game up but with a missed pass two metres from the try line, Orange got to celebrate the win.

Orange coach Jake Blimka wasn't celebrating though and said that it was a very "scrappy" match from his side.

"We had a few players out with injuries but now we know where we've got to be at," he said.

Blimka said his side was more composed in the second half, completing more sets and getting a try up in the end.

"I wouldn't say I am entirely happy with the result but it's a good learning curve for the boys and they know where they need to be at so we will work towards that at training this Tuesday," he said.

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