The competition-leading Fishies made the trip to Larkin Oval expecting to be tested and they were, as Group 11’s two form sides produced one of the toughest and most gruelling matches of the season.

Points were so hard to come by that Nyngan’s Brad Pickering kicked a field goal shortly before the break to give his side a 7-6 lead but Bonham’s kick produced the only points of the second half as CYMS hung on to win 8-7.

“It was a really good battle,” CYMS coach Tim Ryan said.

“It was good because they really came to play and we came to play so it was a real hit-out.”

Before Saturday, CYMS had only played one match this season that was decided by less than 20 points and Ryan relished the opportunity to have his side legitimately challenged.

The Tigers had won five straight coming in and even after allowing Bonham to score midway through the first half off a neat Ilisoni Vonomateiratu offload they didn’t drop their heads.

The home side even had a chance to win it late on but a penalty attempt of their own was waved away.

“It was really good to see how we reacted we we weren’t scoring points. We knew they were going to be tough and pay a big 80 minutes and it proved to be that way,” Ryan said.

The match was originally scheduled for round seven but Larkin Oval was waterlogged that weekend and it was rescheduled after the two sides decided not to share the points.

Ironically, Ryan said that may have been the appropriate result after seeing both teams produce such high-class efforts.

“I said last night they probably didn’t deserve to lose and we didn’t deserve to lose either so one point each might have been fair but to go over there and get the points was very pleasing.”

Ryan singled out Wade Kavanagh for praise, after he bounced back from the disappointment of being sent off in last week’s win over Forbes to play a starring role.

CYMS are now eight points clear at the top of the ladder and in a warning to the rest of Group 11 Ryan said his side can still play better.