Seven sides still have a shot at playing finals, the minor premiership is far from certain and each contender is seemingly capable of beating the other.
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With just three weeks left there is a huge amount to play for in Group 11 league tag and with upset results and tight matches all season, the final few rounds are expected to be just as thrilling.
All three of Dubbo’s sides have a huge amount to play for heading into the final weeks.
CYMS currently sits on top of the ladder but the race to the minor premiership is far from settled, with the Forbes Magpies proving a worthy foe and currently sitting just two points behind in second, while the Westside Bunnies are third.
Finals is no certainty for Macquarie, currently sitting in sixth, but the improving Raidettes arguably have the easiest run home.
CYMS is favoured to stay on top after this weekend due to the fact the Fishies are hosting the seventh-placed Wellington Cowgirls on Sunday but coach Gerry ‘Chicka’ Merritt isn’t taking anything for granted.
“Wellington will give us a good contest and then we’ve got two away games at Nyngan and Forbes, and that one will be doubly hard because they (Forbes) will be trying to knock us off top spot,” he said, before speaking about the closeness of the competition.
“We had a tough game against Macquarie last week and they had beaten Forbes and improved out of sight since when we last played them.
“And then finals will be a whole new ball game and we know a team from fifth could go on and win it so you’ve got to be on your game every week.”
Merritt’s side edged out Macquarie 14-4 last round.
Across at No. 1 Oval this Sunday, an important match will be played out with Westside taking on the Raidettes.
The Bunnies are firmly in the top three conversation while the Macquarie side will be hoping for a confidence boost before games against Wellington and Narromine, teams currently below it on the ladder.
Defending premiers, the Parkes Spacecats, sit in fourth spot heading into this weekend, where they meet the Nyngan Tigresses.
The Tigresses are only ahead of Macquarie on percentages.
Merritt believes each match, no matter of the teams running on the field, will be tightly contested from here on out and rather than feeling the pressure he can’t wait to see his side tested.
“And that’s good because it’s what you want heading into finals,” he said.
The leading try-scorer race is also being hotly contested with Westside’s Madison McGuinness currently leading the way with 14 four-pointers but CYMS’ Majayda Darcy is just one behind.
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.
