Parkes Spacemen have finished the regular season in third place on the Peter McDonald Premiership ladder, and look strong heading into the finals.
This weekend, they're on the road to Dubbo to meet CYMS in the quarter finals, with kick off scheduled for 2pm Sunday at Apex Oval.
Our first grade side went into the last round of the regular season looking for the right sort of form to take them into finals and they produced a crowd-pleaser of a contest against Dubbo Macquarie.
Spacemen led just 34 to Macquarie's 30 and the ball was in Macquarie's hands in the last minute of play.
The efforts from both sides were intense as Macquarie put the ball through what looked like 10 pairs of hands and the Spacies' defence held for the win.
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Read on for the full match reports from the club's scribe.
First Grade
Parkes Spacemen take the field at Apex Oval it is the Indigenous round for Dubbo Macquarie Raiders and after the welcoming ceremony the sun was out and there is a cool breeze good start to footy.
Parkes are looking for a bit of form with the game against Macquarie to help start their run into the finals. From the kick off the game was going to be aggressive but it took only 3 minutes before Sam Dwyer went in for a try on the left side of the field. Chad Porter adds the 2 points.
From the restart Parkes put an excellent couple of plays on and again go in for a try on the left side through the ever present Jacob Smede again Chad Porter conversion successful Spacemen 12 Raiders 0. We are 11 minutes into the game and Parkes look as though they will dominate the game and were attacking again down the left side of the field when Macquarie winger Carl Ralph takes the gamble intercepting a pass to Smede and sprints 65 metres for Raiders first try Jason Boney converts with ball bouncing off the post then going through, scores Parkes 12 Macquarie 6.
The defence for both teams is consistent and it looks like play will settle down until Parkes almost certain to score drop the ball 10 metres out from Macquarie line. After holding Macquarie in their end Parkes again push to the left side and Smede is put through a gap by coming inside and receive a pass from William Pompey to get the ball down for his second try, Porter again converts Parkes 18 Macquarie 6.
Macquarie don't rest and on the 22 minute mark Tyson Fuller with a back line play is over for the Raiders and Jason Boney converts Parkes 18 Macquarie 12.
From the restart Parkes hold Macquarie in their end and after some solid attack come away with a great try from a high ball put up by Chad Porter that was then hit back in the jump for the ball then passed to Chad Porter who ran the ball to the posts. Chad converts his own try Parkes 24 Dubbo 12.
Seven minutes before half time Macquarie put several plays on and this time find space up the centre of the field with an inside pass to Kane McDermott who scores right hand side of posts Jason Boney converts and at half time Parkes are only just holding on to a 6 point lead. Parkes 24 Dubbo 18.
Macquarie restart second half and Parkes run the ball and kick on the 5th tackle Dubbo on a rare occasion knock on and Parkes have scrum feed 30 metres from Dubbo line. Parkes three tackles later have hard running Fiohira Faingaa score mid field on the right hand side Chad Porter converts, Parkes 30 Dubbo 18.
It is wonderful game to watch and there is no let up from either team the game being "tit for tat" Macquarie at the 47 minute mark make 75 metres and put Ashley Widders over untouched Jason Boney converts. Parkes 30 Dubbo 24. No let up from Raiders and from the restart Dubbo put the pressure back on Parkes and after some solid running and defence by Macquarie score again through Alex Ronayne in the right hand corner.
Jason Boney converts the kick of the day and scores are tied 30 all. Over the next 8 minutes Macquarie give away several penalties and at least two are within kicking range but not taken and one penalty Parkes took the tap only to throw a forward pass.
Macquarie finally wilted and left a small gap for Sam Dwyer to wave a little bit of magic and score his second try for Parkes, Chad Porter missed the conversion and the score was Spacemen 34 Macquarie 30. Macquarie had the ball in the last minute of play and in the last play of the day Macquarie put the ball through what looked like 10 sets of hands.
The whistle blew and Spacemen defence held what an end to an entertaining match. Spacemen 34 defeating Macquarie 30.
Parkes Spacemen V Dubbo Macquarie
Spacecats
Spacecats were defeated by competition leaders Dubbo Macquarie on Sunday the Spacecats put up a whole hearted effort and the ladies can hold their heads high as they played with commitment for the entire game. Parkes were simply out gunned by Macquarie. The Spacecats are a young side and with a couple more years in the game will grow to be a team to contend with. Spacecats bow out for the 2024 season and will return next year a more determined side.
Dubbo Macquarie scored 8 tries and kicked 7 from 8 conversions, Parkes Spacecats were not given a chance by Macquarie and did not manage to score. Final score Macquarie 46 Parkes 0.
Parkes Spacecats season ended with them in 10th place on the ladder, well done for the year ladies.
Under 18's
Parkes Under 18's put in a big effort on Sunday but did not come away with the goods. Dubbo Macquarie were very mobile and ran onto the ball for the first half of the game scoring 3 tries and 2 conversions. In the first half Parkes had opportunities and continued to attack Dubbo's line but could not turn effort into points. On one occasion Parkes received a penalty but did not kick the ball out and then gave a penalty away with a high tackle, it took Parkes time to get over this error and gain momentum again but time ran out and half time scores were Macquarie 16 Parkes 0.
In the second half Macquarie score 2 quick tries and 1 conversion. The second try was a classic bomb which Macquarie took and scored mid field. Macquarie 26 Parkes 0. Parkes start to put it together and Sonny MacGregor goes over for the first of 3 tries, Macquarie are penalised for a high shot on Sonny and lose a player to the bin giving Parkes an 8 point try Jack Milne converts both goal and penalty goal. Play settled for 5 minutes and Macquarie made good ground only to knock on giving Parkes the scrum and feed. From the scrum the ball went out the back line and Sonny steps a player and scores mid field Milne again converts Macquarie 26 Parkes 14. Macquarie restart and Parkes have fire in the belly the Spacemen put on a big effort and Sonny is over for his 3 rd try of the day Jack Milne converts putting Parkes as close as they will get for a win, Macquarie 26 Parkes 20.
In the last 10 minutes Parkes tried to get on top but Macquarie held on and Macquarie go in for a hard fort converted try this takes the score to Macquarie 32 Parkes 20. From the restart Macquarie work their way down field and soon take the wind out of Parkes sails with a 20 metre field goal by Macquarie's half making the final score Macquarie 33 defeating Parkes 20.
This has placed Parkes Under 18's in fifth and they now take on eighth placed Bathurst Saint Pat's in the Quarter Final 1, on Saturday, August 17, 2:20pm at Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex Mudgee.
Reserve Grade
Parkes Spacemen Reserve Grade took the field with 12 players as injury has decimated the side in the last couple of weeks. My hat goes off to the boys as Parkes played a valent game. Macquarie scored the first 2 tries but Parkes defence pushed them out wide and both conversions missed the mark Macquarie 8 Parkes 0. Parkes push hard in attack and 20 minutes into half Jimmy Clyburn scores a try from a barging run Marika Koroivui adds the 2 points Macquarie 8 Parkes 6. Before half time Macquarie are in again and the conversion is successful Raiders 14 Parkes 6.
After the break the Dirty Dozen take the field and fatigue and injury for Parkes is starting to show. Parkes in attack push Dubbo into their own 10 metres and number 11 Rex Yallon goes over but try is disallowed Parkes can't pull a trick. From here it is all Macquarie and they score 4 uncontested tries and 3 goals. Parkes at this stage could not keep a competitive side on the field and the game was called 10 minutes short of full time. Final score Dubbo Macquarie 36 Parkes Spacemen 6.
With this loss Parkes is in ninth place and out of contention for the 2024 Reserve Grade Premiership.
