It only took one set for Jarryn Powyer to realise Saturday's Challenge Cup final was going to be nothing like last year.
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Guildford kicked off on Saturday and Fishies prop Hayden Chapman took the first hit-up, only to be met by some brutal defence which drove him back and into the turf. CYMS weren't even close to halfway by the time the fifth tackle arrived.
"That first set we only got about 30 metres and I knew they were here to play," the CYMS captain-coach said after the 42-16 loss.
CYMS won last year's decider clash with the Owls comfortably last year but on Saturday they were left to rue losing a match riddled with errors and poor discipline.
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Jyie Chapman was sin-binned twice while Wade Kavanagh and Byron Warren also spent time off the field, the latter two after a melee inside the first 15 minutes.
"I said after the game you can't win a game in the first 10 minutes but you can go a long way to losing it and I felt that's what we did," Powyer said.
"We lost our heads when we were up by four and that was inexcusable. After that we played like a frustrated side."
The Guildford side on Saturday showed a lot more respect and had more polish compared to last year's side, according to Powyer, and like most others at the ground he highlighted Owls fullback Dom Reardon as the key man.
"They were handy side. They got forward well and their fullback came through the middle and tested us. We fell off a bit too much."
A potentially serious knee injury to Hamish Astill as well as knocks to Byron Warren and Tom Yeo compounded things for Powyer and the Fishies.
The side has the perfect chance to bounce back to form next weekend when it returns to Group 11 and takes on the winless Dubbo Westside in a derby clash.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
