Twelve tries was the treat for spectators as the Nyngan Tigers and Wellington Cowboys - featuring True Blue Blake Ferguson - put on a show for the boisterous crowd in an epic Peter McDonald Premiership Round Seven fixture at Larkin Oval on Sunday.
The game was dictated by swings and lead changes, but ultimately the Tigers clawed their way back from 16 points down to claim a significant 36-24 victory.
Nyngan went into the fixture following back-to-back losses, including a demoralising 54-6 loss to the top-of-the-table Dubbo CYMS in Round Six.
On the other hand, Wellington was a last-start winner having done away with Macquarie Raiders 30-26 in Round Six.
Wellington was on song from the opening whistle, while The Tigers started the contest slowly, conceding three tries in just 12 minutes.
In the opening stages, Cowboys second-rower Seaun Stanley Jnr scooted from hooker to score a soft try and front-rower Jacob Newman strolled over to the left of the uprights.
The try of the game involved former NRL star and NSW winger Ferguson collecting a towering bomb from Rylee Blackhall and then somehow offloading it to Brian Baxter.
The Cowboys winger then passed back to eventual try scorer Blackhall, who crossed to the right of the sticks and put the icing on the cake.
Ferguson potted the second of his conversion attempts and Wellington led 16-0.
In a topsy-turvy first half, Nyngan hit back with three tries of their own.
Off the back of penalties, second-rower Rory Quarmby took a carry from close range and barged over. Minutes later Mason Williams put a deft kick in for Terence Ryan, while front rower Tuiloma Atuau ran hard and straight and powered through the Wellington defence from close to the line.
Following the try, Mason Williams nailed his first conversion and after a thrilling 27 minutes of action, the Tigers only trailed the Cowboys 16-14.
Just before halftime, Justin Toomey-White proved why he is regarded as one of the best players in the competition.
The Cowboy's captain-coach and second rower beat the tackles of four Nyngan defenders, scoring a brilliant try helping Wellington to 20-14 lead at the break.
There were some tense moments after halftime, but the pressure finally told on Wellington, and Nyngan hooker Aidan Bermingham grounded a wayward Cowboys pass when scoring an opportunistic try.
Williams converted and the scores were locked at 20-all after 55 minutes.
Bermingham was in only minutes later muscling his way out of a tackle close to the line and somehow beating four players to score near the uprights.
Williams was again on target and Nyngan took their first lead of the game when up 26-20 after 61 minutes.
Four minutes later, Wellington's right-side defence was again called into question.
This time it was second-rower Corey Cox running straight and hard, and he broke the line from 20 metres out before beating the fullback and winger to score a good try. Williams missed the difficult kick, but Nyngan still held a 10-point advantage, with the Tigers up 30-10 after 65 minutes.
With seven minutes left on the clock, the Tigers put the result beyond doubt.
Josh Merritt kicked long for a chasing Ash Widders, whose offload went to ground but front rower Jacob Neill pounced on the ball from 15 metres out to score one of the more popular tries of the day.
Williams kicked his fourth conversion putting Nyngan further ahead 36-20.
Wellington scored their only try of the second half in the game's final minutes, with Stanley crossing for his second.
With the first half of the season now in the books, Round Eight of the 2023 Peter McDonald Premiership will see crossover games played between Group 11 and 10 outfits.
Wellington is on the road to Orange to take on the Hawks at Wade Park on Sunday, while Nyngan is at home to the top-of-the-table Mudgee Dragons at Larkin Oval on Sunday.
In other Round Eight contests on Sunday, Dubbo CYMS hosts Orange CYMS at Apex Oval, Bathurst St Pat's play Parkes Spacemen at Jack Arrow Sporting Complex, Forbes Magpies are at home to the Bathurst Panthers at Spooner Oval, and Lithgow Wolves take on Macquarie Raiders at Tony Luchetti Sportsground.
Group 11 ladder: Dubbo CYMS 12, Parkes Spacemen 10, Nyngan Tigers 8, Wellington Cowboys 8, Macquarie Raiders 5, Forbes Magpies 5.
Group 10 ladder: Mudgee Dragons 12, Bathurst St Pat's 10, Orange Hawks 6, Bathurst Panthers 6, Lithgow Wolves 2, Orange CYMS 0.
