Sunday has been dubbed as one of the closest matches the undefeated Group 11 leaders Dubbo CYMS have had in recent weeks.
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But the rivals still managed to put 20 points on hosts, the Parkes Spacemen, who had been second coming into the weekend.
The Spacemen First Grade took on the Fishies in a top-of-the-table clash at Pioneer Oval – something that was always going to be a tough match for the town.
The CYMS continued their relentless march towards the Group 11 minor premiership with a 42-22 victory.
The loss drops the Spacemen into fourth, after they were leapfrogged on the ladder by the Nyngan Tigers and Forbes Magpies, who won their games against the Narromine Jets and Dubbo Macquarie Raiders respectively.
It was a close match, with Chad Porter the first to score for Parkes and the CYMS just in front 24-16 at half-time.
The game looked like it could have gone either way.
But the visitors scored three more tries in the 20 minutes after half-time to lead 42-22.
After that neither team could advance the score before the full-time siren.
It was an outcome Parkes captain-coach Dennis Moran said he was a bit disappointed with.
“We realised some things we went well at and things we need to learn from,” Moran said.
“Like to not turn the ball over so easily, and just going forward and not looking sideways.”
Moran said the side’s big forwards “laid the platform early” for the team, which its backs captalised on in the first 15 to 20 minutes.
“But we went away from that game plan,” he said.
“We need to stick to that game plan and not get bored of doing that.
“And not give away silly penalties which cost us massively.”
Try scorers for Parkes were Chad Porter (1), Jack Medlyn (1), Jake Porter (1) and Sam Dwyer (1); goals to Dennis Moran (3).
Moran praised the efforts of Dwyer and Joss Cleal following Sunday’s game.
For Dwyer, Moran said it was the little things that made the difference.
And it was Cleal’s defence that was the highlight.
“He did a lot of defending from the middle and he played the full 80 minutes,” Moran said.
“It’s hard playing 80 minutes from anywhere, let alone the middle and it’s hard to attack when you’re doing a lot of defending.
“But he stood up and he did really well.”
Sunday's victory now moves CYMS onto 10-straight wins for the season and six points clear at the top of the ladder.
The Spacemen face Dubbo Westside at Dubbo on Sunday.
And while Westside hasn’t won a game yet this season, Moran isn’t about to become complacent.
“You never know with them,” he said.
Results from Round 10 First Grade
Parkes Spacemen 22 v Dubbo CYMS 42.
Macquarie Raiders 10 v Forbes Magpies 22.
Wellington Cowboys 50 v Dubbo Westside 36.
Nyngan Tigers 26 v 62 v Narromine Jets 16.
Ladder after Round 10
1 Dubbo CYMS 20
2 Nyngan Tigers 15
3 Forbes Magpies 14
4 Parkes Spacemen 14
5 Macquarie Raiders 7
6 Wellington Cowboys 6
7 Narromine Jets 4
8 Dubbo Westside 0
Other results for Parkes
League tag – Parkes Spacecats 16 v Dubbo CYMS 22 (Parkes ranked fourth on ladder with 10pts).
Under 18s – Parkes Spacemen 6 v Dubbo CYMS 30 (Parkes ranked fifth, 8pts).
Reserve Grade – Parkes Spacemen 20 v Dubbo CYMS 4 (Parkes ranked fourth on ladder with 12pts).
