The Parkes Spacemen face a difficult task to defend their Group 11 premiership after succumbing 38-18 to a rejuvenated Wellington on Pioneer Oval yesterday.
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The Cowboys scored seven tries to three to win decisively, four of their tries coming either side of half-time.
The visitors led 26-6 at the break and were clearly the better side on a bitterly cold day.
The loss, Parkes’ second successive home defeat, leaves the Spacemen stranded in fifth position with eight rounds to play.
It would appear they need to win their final seven games to at least finish in the top three and earn a double chance at the business end of the season.
While the Spacemen tried hard all day, they were effectively out-muscled by the Cowboys who made major inroads on the Spacemen right edge defence.
Yet again the little men, Alex Prout and Sam Dwyer, were inspirational while the tireless Epi Sadrodro was again prominent on a difficult day against committed and spirited opposition.
Parkes two lower grades both impressed with strong wins against willing opposition.
Parkes juniors scored seven tries to two to triumph 34-8while the competition leading reserves outlasted the Cowboys 30-8 after leading 30-nil late in the contest.
The win was soured when forward Peter White was taken to hospital by ambulance after 45 minutes when he was injured in a tackle while taking the ball up.
The match was delayed for 20 minutes to enable the durable back-rower to receive specialist attention, firstly on the field and later in Parkes hospital from which he was later released.
Without Pat Rosser, Dennis Moran and Evi Naioko, the Spacemen first grade outfit struggled in the early stages against the resurgent Cowboys.
Two Toomey-White tries in the opening 12 minutes provided a deserved early buffer as the Spacemen struggled to control the ruck.
Finally Parkes warmed to their task on the back of rare penalty, a scheming Dwyer sending Tino Ionatana scampering 15 metres for a neat try to reduce the margin to 10-6.
While the next 20 minutes provided an old fashioned arm wrestle, the visitors appeared the more likely to score and eventually centre Jones crossed for Wellington’s third and a 16-6 lead on 35 minutes.
A minute later the elusive Jones steamed onto a deft Toomey-White offload and raced 40 metres against a non-plussed and ineffective Parkes defence.
To complete the five minute blitz, the Cowboys produced another try on the siren to establish a 26-6 lead at oranges.
That pattern continued when play resumed with Barrow recalled for a forward pass and fullback West adding insult to injury by racing 40 metres for the sixth try.
With Matt Clarke binned for dissent, the Spacemen soldiered on and the ever present Dwyer reduced the margin to 32-12 after 57 minutes.
Dave Masoe was held up over the line but Adam Richards went one better to provide a sniff of victory at 32-18.
Parkes enjoyed an abundance of possession and opportunity as the minutes ticked by, the Cowboys at one stage restarting with four consecutive drop outs.
The Cowboys weathered the storm and clinched a deserved victory when Toomey-White crashed over for his hat-trick.
Wellington 38 (J. Toomey-White 3, C. Jones 2, N. West, S. Ireland tries; L. Stanley 5 goals) def Parkes 18 (T. Ionatona, S. Dwyer, A. Richards tries; T. Barrow 3 goals0.
Penalties, Parkes 7-5.
Referee, Wayne Hughes. Gate - $1960.
Next Sunday, Parkes travel to Cobar for Round 11.
