The two sides won again on the weekend and share top spot in the Northern Pool.

Both sides have a draw and two wins to their name after the first three rounds.

The Raiders downed an under strength CYMS in the Dubbo derby at Apex Oval while Wellington produced a tough effort at Glen Willow when downing Mudgee 18-10.

The Raiders and Cowboys are setting the pace but five rounds remain and Fishies coach Bret Fisher was remaining upbeat on Saturday.

CYMS has just the one win from three rounds but Fishier still has plenty of faith in his side.

"We're going good and it's a little hard to get a gauge on it today with not a full compliment of players and blokes out of position but we're traveling alright," he said.

"We'll be there at the end, there's no doubt about it."

CYMS will meet Mudgee next weekend.

Things are heating up in the Southern and Eastern pools as but the Forbes Magpies remain one of the competitions hottest teams.

The young Magpies, winners of last year's Group 11 premiership, maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign when scoring a dominant 64-4 win over Canowindra in round three.

Parkes proved too good Cowra in the pool's other game and scored a first win for the season.

NORTHERN POOL

Round 3

MACQUARIE RAIDERS 28 (Maclay Ryan 2, Brandon Hamilton, Nathan Walker, Sonny Knight tries; Nathan Walker 3, Blake Merritt goals) defeated DUBBO CYMS 24 (Fletcher Haycock 2, Charlie Holman, Cale Dunn; Noah Ryan 4 goals)

WELLINGTON COWBOYS 18 defeated MUDGEE DRAGONS 10

SOUTHERN POOL

Round 3

FORBES MAGPIES 64 defeated CANOWINDRA TIGERS 4

PARKES SPACEMEN 26 defeated COWRA MAGPIES 10

EASTERN POOL

Round 5

BATHURST ST PAT'S 20 defeated LITHGOW WORKIES 16

ORANGE HAWKS 40 defeated BATHURST PANTHERS 18

ORANGE CYMS - Bye