Urged on by a healthy ANZAC Day audience, the Spacemen struggled to subdue a tenacious, willing Rabbitohs outfit which could consider themselves desperately unlucky not to have opened their premiership account.

The visitors led 20-8 at oranges and 26-24 inside the final minute until a penalty close to the line positioned the mercurial Frank for the match winner.

While the contest was played in great spirit, it was a mistake laden encounter with both sides consistently struggling to complete their sets.

In the end, the Spacemen did just enough to remain unbeaten after three rounds but, upcoming assignments at Macquarie and then home to CYMS on May 17 will test their mettle.

Skipper Dennis Moran will welcome the bye next week as he sets his attention on improving the team’s ball security, control and discipline.

Four try Frank was a Man of the Match standout for the winners, but benchmen Jack Medlyn and Ben Nash, together with go forward prop Dave Masoe, impressed in the forward pack.

Westside’s halves Josh Merritt and Swade Dunn produced blinders for the visitors, at times mesmerising the Spacemen defence especially close to the line.

Referee Willie Barnes contributed to the ANZAC Day occasion which both teams embraced with appropriate respect and reverence.

Earlier Parkes lost the reserves 26-14 and the League Tag 42-0, but the juniors impressed with a 72-6 romp.

Justin Shillingsworth opened the Rabbits account against his former club by scooping up a loose Parkes pass in only the sixth minute.

Five minutes later, Moran worked a narrow blind close to the line to put centre Michael Mitchell over in the corner to level the scores.

Two tries within five minutes by Merritt and Fuller, both from ineffective and disinterested Parkes defence, edged Westside to a handy 16-4 advantage after 23 minutes.

The developing anxiety in the Parkes camp was relieved in the 27th minute when a rampaging Medlyn, who again showed a series deft touches to justify Group XI selection, sent Frank 20 metres for his opening try.

Again the visitors responded and finished the first half full of confidence and purpose when soft defence allowed Dylan Hill to score for 20-8 at the break.

A Dunn 40-20 had Parkes in trouble when play resumed but eventually two penalties provided some Spacemen momentum and attacking structure.

In the 51st minute, an inside Moran pass put Frank over for 20-14 and from the restart Masoe, Alex Prout and Medlyn made incisions for Frank’s hat-trick.

Fullback Sam Dwyer, who had an indifferent day, was twice dispossessed close to the line and then was recalled on the touch judge’s advice.

Eventually he made amends, working off that man Moran for a good try on the hour for Parkes to lead for the first time at 24-20.

Westside, however, would not go away and continued to worry the Spacemen on the back of three straight penalties.

It came as no surprise when Merritt stepped neatly to score between the posts with 11 minutes to play.

Both sides had chances to claim victory in a tense final chapter, with Westside denied a try in the corner in the 76th minute.

It came down to an 80th minute blind side sortie in which Brandon Paige and Jake Porter figured prominently for Parkes to earn the final penalty from which Moran put Frank over for the match winner.

PARKES 28 (K. Frank 4, M. Mitchell, S. Dwyer tries; D. Moran 2 goals) defeated WESTSIDE 26 (J. Merritt 2, J. Shillingsworth, K. Fuller, D. Hill tries; S. Dunn 3 goals). 

Referee, W. Barnes; penalties 7-all.

Gate - $2675