Parkes Spacemen president Andrew Porter is rapt his club has all four senior sides in the 2017 Group 11 finals series.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And, making the achievement even more special, all four will play this Saturday at Jock Colley Field.
The defending premiers, the Spacecats will take on Dubbo Macquarie in the 2pm opener in the league tag elimination semi-final before reserve grade, under 18s and first grade sides follow in sudden death clashes of their own.
Porter said is was great to see all four sides still in action come the business end of the season.
"That was the objective," Porter said. "Now it's a whole new ball game, it's a whole new competition."
After the league tag opener, reserve grade hosts Wellington while the juniors take on Nyngan.
The Dennis Moran-led first grade outfit then takes on Dubbo Macquarie in the elimination semi-final, a hurdle the Spacemen stumbled at in 2016.
Parkes lost the corresponding game last season to eventual premiers Forbes, and Spacemen fullback Sam Dwyer admits last year’s premature finals exit was still in the back of his mind.
“That one still hurts,” he said. “We were all pretty disappointed to bow out of last season so early. We don’t want that to happen again this season.”
The Group 11 and Western Rams fullback said the winner of Saturday’s clash will be the side that comes out on top in what is shaping up as a bumper forward battle.
Macqurie’s pack has propelled the Raiders to three wins on the trot leading into the semi-finals.
And Moran has named representative wrecking-ball Brandon Tago to start in a clear indication the Spacemen plan to fight fire with fire.
Dwyer said super-subs Jay Slavin and Darby Medlyn will be important off the bench, but prop Jordan Pope was the key.
“Whenever Jordy’s out there you know you’re going to be ok,” Dwyer said.
Due to an error, the Champion Post published incorrect scores from round 14 against the Wellington Cowboys in Tuesday's paper.
The scores were first grade Parkes won 52-20, under 18s Parkes won 28-6, reserve grade Parkes lost 27-20 and the Spacecats won 40-0.