Parkes reserves maintained their slim semi-final prospects with a convincing 32-10 win at Narromine last Saturday.
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Injured captain-coach Paul Hetherington was delighted with his side’s seventh win of the season and second in a row.
The scenario is that Parkes need to win at Forbes next Sunday in the final competition round and trust that Macquarie and Wellington slip at the final hurdle.
Playing without several key players including former skipper Rick Newham, Parkes produced a display of rousing open football to register seven tries to two after leading 14-6 at oranges.
With confidence and cohesion mounting after the break, Hetherington’s men stuck to their task well and added four more tries in the second half, including several long distance efforts.
In a solid team effort, George Wright, Toby Tanks, Matt Clarke, Sam Lavis and Lionel Lovett were all standout performers.
Veteran Billy Joe Francis steered the side around the paddock, calling on his year’s of guile and experience.
Parkes dominated the opening exchanges to post the first two tries within 12 minutes to lead 10-0.
Hooker Toby Tanks scooted over from close range for the opener and veteran Kristian Clarke sent Mitchell Davis over with a superb late pass.
The Jets responded for 10-6 with a soft try, but winger Sam Lavis showed speed, agility and acceleration to score a great individual try for 14-6 after 25 minutes.
Spurred on by a colorful halftime address from coach Hetherington, the Spacemen were again quickly out of the blocks.
A neat in-goal grubber from the non-stop Tanks was pounced on by winger Jordan MacDougall for Parkes’ fourth try and a 20-6 lead.
As tempers frayed, Thomas Bateson was binned after 45 minutes, and the Jets capitalised when winger Shennan crossed out wide.
A superb restart from Billy Joe Francis gifted Parkes an opportunity to put the result beyond doubt.
From a scrum win on his own quarter, fullback Darcy James scored a brilliant solo try, evading five defenders in the process.
A Francis 40-20 rubbed salt into the wounds, enabling Tyrone Robinson to gallop 50 metres for Parkes’ sixth try.
Another 80 metre break by the elusive Lavis as the siren sounded clinched a deserved 32-10 success.
PARKES 32 (S. Lavis 2, D. James, J. McDougall, T. Robinson, M. Davis, T. Tanks tries; Tanks 2 goals) defeated NARROMINE 10 (M. Wolfe, T. Shennan tries; G. Sutherland goal).
