The Magpies were overcome by pressure and field position in the final five minutes and after leading 16-10 in the closing stages, succumbed 20 points to 16.

Proceedings started well for the Magpies, who muscled up in defence and forced the Bulls into making key errors.

One of those errors allowed flying winger Luke Darmody to grab an intercept and run 70 metres to the try line. Luke Jorgenson converted to extend the home side’s lead.

On the next set cunning half back Ben ‘Chook’ Warner exposed Gungahlin’s left-edge defence and put Darmody into open space for his second try in two minutes. Jorgenson converted for a 12-0 lead.

Yass enjoyed good go-forward from the likes of Brett Waters, Pat Merritt and Adam Alchin off the bench.

The Magpies continually turned up in defence and dominated the ruck, with veteran Magpie playmaker Adam Danilczak adding real starch to the team’s defensive effort.

Crowd pleaser Matthew ‘Mary’ Waters provided a highlight for supporters with an attempted 40/20 kick for touch. His 40/20 effort made a gain of 20 metres and received great applause.

A deft Adam Danilczak kick for centre Craig Irwin worked to perfection. Irwin gathered the kick and scored the Magpies third try of the day for a 16-0 day.

Only minutes from half-time, the home side conceded a try and their lead narrowed to 10 at the break.

The second half turned into a dour tussle, with the Magpies once again ripping in defensively and the Bulls battling to make inroads.

With 15 minutes remaining, the Bulls scored their second try and suddenly found themselves in reach at 16-10.

Faced with the pressure of the scoreboard, the Magpies could only muster a couple of positive sets.

The tiring Magpies, who spent most of the second half camped at their own end, began to falter

With under five minutes left on the clock, the Bulls capitalised on another Yass error to score their third try and trail the Magpies 16-14.

Magpies supporters, with fingers crossed, were hoping the Yass boys could hang on for the final three minutes.

But the Bulls, with momentum on their side, received a string of penalties and with less than ten seconds remaining shifted the ball wide to score the match winning try.

Veteran dummy-half Adam Danilczak won the players’ player poll, while winger Luke Darmody was awarded three points, Ben Warner two and Brett Waters one.