Ahead of the opening round at Wellington on Sunday week, the premiers scored five tries to three in a spirited encounter in warm conditions before an appreciative audience.

Referee Steve Riley handled a difficult contest well and both camps were happy enough with the hit out.

Skipper Pat Rosser and the wily Dennis Moran were kept busy running the water to replenish the troops on a hot autumn day.

After Epi Sadrodo led the team in prayer in the sheds afterwards, Rosser commended his players on a superb second half which produced a 14/16 completion rate.

Regrettably, he said, the two Parkes errors gifted Narromine with tries and a repeat of that effort at Wellington could prove costly.

The match was delayed for approximately half an hour in the first half when a Narromine player suffered a serious knee injury, requiring an ambulance to be called to the ground.

In general terms Rosser was happy with the effort and outcome in the build up to the trip to Wellington.

One of last season’s standouts, hooker Tino Ionatana, was again superb with two good tries, while newcomers Alex Prout and Cameron Standen (Players’ Player) were conspicuous.

Standen booted four neat goals and impressed with his positional play, suggesting that his switch in codes will reap a substantial dividend for the Spacemen.

Prout initiated the opening try, busting the line to put a charging Hayden Robinson over to score under the posts.

Ionatana beat half a dozen defenders to score Parkes’ second, while his close Samoan friend Dave Masoe used his size, strength and experience to beat three defenders for Parkes’ third try and an 18-nil buffer.

When play resumed after the lengthy break from the ambulance call, Narromine appeared more focused and winger Fieldson raced 50 metres for their opening try.

The dynamic Ionatana scored his second after another dazzling effort close to the line before the Jets again responded for 24-12.

In the run to the judge, back rower Jordan Pope, another impressive performer, dived over in the corner before Narromine scored a late consolation try two minutes from time.

PARKES SPACEMEN 28 (T. Ionatana 2, D. Masoe, J. Pope, H. Robinson tries; C. Standen 4 goals) def NARROMINE JETS 18 (A. Sambrook 2, C. Fieldson tries; 3 goals).