The 2023 Peter McDonald Premiership (PMP) race is down to four teams after a thrilling Sunday of Elimination Finals in Parkes and Orange.
With Dubbo CYMS and Mudgee Dragons having earned the week off following their Quarter-final victories earlier this month, the two Minor Premiers watched on with interest as their rivals battled for survival in high-scoring contests.
In the Group 11 Elimination Final, a blistering start helped the Parkes Spaceman to a 36-26 victory over the Wellington Cowboys at Pioneer Oval.
Parkes shot out of the blocks and led 22-nil after 30 minutes, with custodian Sam Dwyer crossing for a double.
Coach and playmaker Chad Porter pulled all the right strings behind barnstorming pair Takitau Mapapalangi and Will Wardle, and the Spaceman couldn't be stopped.
The Cowboys made a game of it, scoring a handful of tries in the second half, but the Spaceman were good enough to hold on to the lead and land a 10-point win.
The result rockets Parkes into Sunday's Group 11 Preliminary Final against Dubbo CYMS at Apex Oval.
Orange's class prevailed in the Group 10 Elimination Final as the Hawks finished strongly to defeat the Bathurst Panthers 36-20 at Wade Park.
It was hard to separate the two sides in the first 40 minutes, with Orange leading 12-10 at halftime.
The Panthers crept ahead 14-12 early in the second half.
Still, a 15-minute try-scoring blitz midway through the second half, inspired by the efforts of playmaker Scott Rosser and speedy fullback Ryan Manning, helped the Hawks to an unassailable lead.
With the game all but over, the Hawks finished strongly, recording the 16-point win at home.
The result sets up a tantalising Group 10 Preliminary Final against Mudgee Dragons at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex on Saturday.
Heavyweights meet in Blues Tag competition
The 2023 Blues Tag Western Premiership is heating up, and two epic Preliminary Finals will be played this weekend.
In Group 10, a competition powerhouse will see their season come to an end when the Orange CYMS take on Bathurst St Pats at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex on Saturday.
The Saints finished on top of Group 10 but fell to the Dubbo Macquarie Raiders 16-12 in their Quarter-final at Carrington Park earlier this month.
In contrast, the CYMS, who lost just one game during 2023, knocked off the Dubbo CYMS in their crossover Quarter-Final, earning the week off.
Saints subsequently had to take the long road, defeating Forbes 46-12 in Parkes on Sunday, to earn a showdown with CYMS in what is shaping as a very intriguing contest.
The Group 11 Preliminary Final will be an all-Dubbo encounter, with Macquarie Raiders and CYMS doing battle at Apex Oval on Sunday.
With the Raiders surprising Saints in the Quarter-Final mentioned above, they earned the week off.
They will take on a Dubbo CYMS side that was playing for survival on Sunday when they defeated Mudgee 22-6 in their Elimination Final at Orange.
Click here for all Peter McDonald Premiership and Western Premiers draws and results.
