Not only did they receive news club chairman Kevin Walkom was “up and talking” again after having a blood clot removed from his brain late last week, the win also wrapped up the Group 11 minor premiership.

The result puts CYMS three wins clear of Wellington at the top of the ladder with two rounds remaining.

Ryan played down the minor premiership, saying he was happy but there was still room to improve.

“We just wanted to lift our intensity really … and I think we lifted in the second half … but our completion rate in the  second half, although our intensity went up our completion rate went down so there’s always something, the fundamentals can always be better.”

The Rabbitohs conceded an early try in the fifth minute, but clawed back to 6-6 when Kaine Ashby thundered over.

There was a real tussle for control for the next ten minutes with neither side able to crack the other but when Jyie Chapman created space out wide to score in the 18^th minute, momentum shifted.

Corey Cox, Bayden Searle and Chapman extended the lead to 26-6 before CYMS started to really enjoy themselves.

In the 31^st minute Wade Kavanagh broke Westside’s line and offloaded the ball to Jaryn Powyer who, after a juggle, put in a perfectly weighted kick for John Grey to claim his first of the afternoon.

Another stroke of flamboyance came four minutes later when Kavanagh, Chapman and Grey combined on the right edge for Chapman’s hat trick.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

The scoreline blew out in the second half as Westside spent 25 minutes a man down; captain-coach Claude Gordon was sin-binned for back chat and, within minutes of his return, Tom Merritt was sent off for striking in a tackle.

Gordon said the “effort was there”, despite low numbers.

“CYMS are a quality side, but the boys showed up and had a dig. I couldn’t ask for much more,” he said.

“When you’ve got no subs the fatigue sets in a bit and all the talk and the little one per cent stuff goes out the window.”

Gordon and co-coach Matt Naden refused to field players that hadn’t been training, he said.

“If I’m going to lose, I’d rather lose with guys that are … having a go,” he said.

“Me and Nado came here at the start of the year trying to change the culture and we’re getting there.

“A few of the blokes don’t want to play because we’ve strung a few losses together but that builds character … and I said to them at the end of the game ‘remember this feeling, because in a few years us that could be us [winning].”

Gordon passed on the club’s well wishes for Walkom.

Ryan said Walkom was “definitely” in the Fishies’ minds on Sunday.

“He would have been here for sure,” he said. “It just makes you think how lucky we are to be getting up every morning.”

CYMS 74 (Jyie Chapman 4, Wade Kavanagh 2, Corey Cox 2, Shaq Gordon 2, Hamish Astill, John Grey, Bayden Searle tries; Brad Pickering 11 goals) def WESTSIDE 6 (Kaine Ashby try; Darrell Cubby goal)