The Group 11 season reached its halfway mark on the weekend and the race for a place in the finals is well and truly alive.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
CYMS is red-hot favourites to collect another minor premiership having gone through the first seven rounds of the season undefeated, while Wellington and Parkes are locked on 10 points and well-placed for a top three finish.
However, injured Cowboys captain-coach Aidan Ryan is adamant nothing can be taken for granted with so much football to be played between now and the end of round 14 on August 12.
The Cowboys won again on Saturday, downing Macquarie 44-32 at Apex Oval, but Ryan is still demanding his side to be better, particularly with a “dark horse” starting to loom just outside the competition’s current top three.
“A few clubs would have watched us and thought we’re beatable but we’re still getting the wins,” Ryan, currently sidelined through injury, said on Saturday.
“We’ve got to get into grind and learn to tackle harder and really dig in deep and respect the tryline, otherwise sides like CYMS run over you.
“But Forbes is a real dark horse and the team I’m most wary of. I think they’ve been the most challenging team and come next round playing them over there and also Nyngan, we’ve got a a tough few games and I think we play one home game and travel for three weeks.
“We’ve got to step it up or we’ll be in a bit of strife.”
Wellington sits second having lost to only to its top three rivals so far.
But it’s the Magpies Ryan is keeping a real eye on and the men in black and white produced arguably their best performance of the season when downing Parkes in the annual long weekend clash.
The Magpies are fourth on the ladder while Westside has moved into fifth, one point ahead of Macquarie, after Sunday’s come-from-behind win at Narromine.
The Magpies travel to Dubbo to take on a confident Westside this weekend while Wellington and Parkes face stern tests against Nyngan and Macquarie respectively.
The game against a rejuvenated Tigers, boosted by the addition of Josh Merritt, is part of a tricky run home for the Cowboys, who have four of the final six games away from Kennard Park.
CYMS has the best run home of any side, with only one game outside of Dubbo. That is this weekend when the Fishies travel to Narromine.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
