The Parkes Spacemen first grade rugby league side produced tenacity, commitment and spirit in abundance to overcome Narromine 38-30 on Jock Colley Field on Sunday.
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In achieving their fourth win in five outings to consolidate their top three credentials, the Spacemen scored seven tries to five, but had to work overtime to claim the verdict.
News of Nyngan’s 36-32 win over Forbes confirmed the Spacemen occupy third position on the points table nearing the halfway point.
The scores were 18-all at oranges with the Jets responding to the three tries the Spacemen scored.
The biggest margin of the day was 28-18, but the visitors kept coming, closing to within four points twice in a nail-biting second session which forced the Spacemen to constantly regroup to address an error rate which gifted the Jets 60 per cent of possession.
Captain-coach Dennis Moran was relieved to claim the points, but will again seek improved ball security and control ahead of the big games against CYMS and Forbes.
In the end, Brandon Tago and Alex Prout played significant roles in the victory, tormenting the Jets defence with stand out performances.
In the vital third quarter, both stood up to gain the ascendancy with the outcome in the balance.
Despite several uncharacteristic handling errors, skipper Sam Dwyer was busy throughout as were centres Luke Clarke and Cameron Standen.
Standen produced a superb first half performance in both attack and defence, but was forced from the field at the interval after a heavy head knock.
Up front, two-try Grant Coleman produced his best effort for the Spacemen, but he enjoyed plenty of help against a tough, robust Jets pack, supplemented by some slick outside men.
Earlier the Parkes club enjoyed strong wins on a cold, blustery Jock Colley Field to complete a resounding four grade success to rise the club up the championship ladder.
The league tag ladies continued their winning exploits with a 52-0 romp to remain unbeaten; the Under 18s won 30-0 and the reserves won 20-16 to remain in top three contention.
The top grade welcomed the return of Sam Dwyer and Alex Prout and, with the exception of Dennis Moran and Jordan Pope, were arguably at full strength.
The Jets missed their injured captain-coach Luke Thompson, the Western Rams backrower.
The match opened sensationally when Luke Clarke collected a short kick and raced 80 metres, providing the platform for hooker Grant Coleman to score the opening try from dummy half after only four minutes.
Cameron Standen obliged for a handy 6-0 start, but the visitors levelled after 15 minutes when Cubby retrieved a short kick on the sixth which struck the goal post to evade the Parkes defence .
Standen cleverly regained the restart as the catalyst for Parkes’ second try, scored by Dwyer working a narrow blind side.
Standen goaled from wide out for 12-6 after a keenly contested opening quarter.
A Cubby chip kick on the sixth tackle from 15 metres put Jets hooker Harding over between the posts to again lock the score after 25 minutes.
Again the Parkes response was emphatic, Prout capitalising on a penalty 15 metres out to slice the defence for a smart individual try on the half hour.
Standen used the right upright favourably to convert for 18-12.
When Dwyer failed to control a Epi Sadrodro pass after a 50 metre bust, the visitors reaped a rich dividend, Cox stepping Clarke close to the line to level the scores for the third time after 38 minutes.
When play resumed the indefatigable Dwyer was denied a try after referee Hartas ruled he had used a shoulder to dislodge the ball from the Jets fullback on the try line.
A minute later, however, that man Prout sped onto a deft Tago pass wide of the ruck to race 25 metres for his second superb try.
Amberge missed from beside the posts for 22-18 after 44 minutes, a lead stretched three minutes later after Coleman plunged over between the posts.
The busy Coleman, together with a Jets forward, was then binned as tempers frayed and the intensity rose appreciatively.
With the Parkes error rate on the increase, the Jets scored yet again from a kick on the sixth tackle and it was game on again at 28-24 on the hour.
Incisive runs by Sadrodro, Slavin, Paige, Prout and Clarke put Josh Amberge over in the corner for breathing space at 32-24, a booming conversion edging the Spacemen 10 in front.
Three sets of six enabled the Jets to score again for 34-30 after 69 minutes to set the scene for a grandstand finish.
Finally the issue was settled when Prout chipped on the sixth for Amberge to put Clarke over in the scoreboard corner for 38-30 with five minutes to play to complete a resolute and important win on a difficult day.
PARKES 38 (A. Prout 2, G. Coleman 2, S. Dwyer, L. Clarke, J. Amberge tries; C. Standen 3, M. Amberge 2 goals) defeated NARROMINE 30 (J. Richardson, C. Cox, D. Cubby, B. Richardson, L. Harding tries; Cox 5 goals).