What. A. Game.
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In one of the best finishes to a rugby league game you are ever likely to see, Dubbo CYMS scored two tries in the final minute to defeat the Parkes Spacemen 20-16 on Sunday afternoon at Pioneer Oval.
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, the Spacemen scored in the 74th minute, taking their lead to 16-10 before a pair of Corey Drew tries broke the hearts of the home crowd.
Fishies coach Shaun Townsend was at a loss when asked to explain the final five minutes of the game.
"You don't get many of those in a year, or even 10 years to be honest," he said.
"We didn't play the footy we wanted to play for much of the second half, but then with a minute to go we had to, and we moved the ball so well.
"It was a mindset shift, and it worked out perfectly in the end," Townsend said after the match.
The game was an arm wrestle early, with both sides pulling out some huge hits in defence and not giving an inch.
Parkes five-eighth Jack Creith opened the scoring midway through the half, putting his frame and athleticism to good use as he jinxed his way through the line from 10 metres out, after the defence had forced a handling error from Dubbo.
A bone crunching tackle from the Fishies defence with five minutes remaining in the half forced a turnover on Parkes' defensive 20 metre line, and Fishies half Jack Smith made them pay, as he poked his way over the line.
With the score sitting at 6-4 Parkes' way at half time, both sides were noticeably fired up when they returned from the sheds.
Dubbo struck first, after a rampaging run from prop James Stanley, and rode a wave of momentum as Parkes continually gave away penalties; gifting Dubbo some easy exits from their back half.
The Dubbo defence began to tire, however, and a brilliantly timed pass from Creith sent Bailey Hartwig over with 13 minutes to go, giving Parkes the lead 12-10.
When an equally sublime pass from Chad Porter sent Brandon Paige over in the corner with just five minutes remaining, Dubbo looked gone.
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Enter Jeremy Thurston.
The Fishies centre came streaming through like a elegant gazelle to catch a short kick-off on the full, and Drew went over in the corner moments later; though when the sideline conversion was missed, Parkes retained a two-point lead and looked to have the game all sewn up.
Somehow with 60 seconds remaining however, the Fishies stormed down the field, taking advantage of a pedestrian Parkes defensive line, and Drew crossed over again in the corner in front of a raucous Fishies away crowd with just five second left on the clock.
Townsend was full of praise for Parkes after the game, acknowledging how impressive they were for much of the game.
"Parkes were unlucky, they should've beaten us.
"Dwyer, Creith, Hartwig and Porter give them good shape, and they were the best side we've played all year.
"I love the 6 (Creith) in particular, he's a sensational footballer," Townsend said.
Spacemen coach Brent Wood was understandably disappointed after the game, but still proud of his charges.
"Best side lost today. I'm stoked with our effort though, just gutted for the boys in the way it ended, but I know we can match it with anyone," he said.
The Spacemen will now look to regroup, with two away games at Nyngan and Narromine on the cards over the next fortnight.
PARKES SPACEMEN 16 (Hartwig, Creith, Paige tries; C. Porter 2 goals) defeated by DUBBO CYMS 20 (Drew 2, Stanley, Smith tries; Thurston 2 goals) at Pioneer Oval, Parkes
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