The Spacemen led 18-6 at the break and scored seven tries to two in a generally scrappy affair.

Despite the win, Spacemen skipper Pat Rosser, who made 37 tackles including 25 in the first half, will need to lift his charges further at the business end of the season.

Parkes now will finish in the bottom of the final five after Macquarie’s 30-26 win over Nyngan, meaning the Spacemen will need to win all four finals matches to defend their premiership.

While Rosser led by example in defence, Alex Prout (25), Epi Sadrodro (23) and Jordan Pope (21) also worked overtime as Forbes enjoyed plenty of possession on the back of a high Parkes error count.

Evi Nioko made 14 hit-ups, Sam Dwyer , Tino Ionatana, Rosser and Pope (13) and Dave Masoe (12) as the Spacemen did enough to claim the competition points.

Prout again organised the Parkes attack in another Man of the Match display, with Rosser, Ionatana, Dwyer and Nioko not far behind.

Injuries to Todd Barrow (leg), Matt Clarke (shoulder), and Dennis Moran (hamstring) further disrupted the Parkes cause in a match where a healthy crowd would have been disappointed with a general lack of execution from both sides.

Honours were shared in two keenly contested lower grade contests.

Parkes Reserves regained their composure and confidence with a well constructed 22-8 success but the Juniors were beaten 32-6 after keeping Forbes scoreless in the second half.

A minute’s silence was observed prior to first grade for the late Mrs Mollie Walker, mother of former Forbes stalwarts Michael and David.

Brodie Hodges strolled over for the opening Forbes try but Parkes responded after two penalties when Alex Prout darted over.

A brilliant Epi Sadrodro bust, supplied by Evi Nioko, sent Ada Aparosa 30 metres for a brilliant try for 12-6 as the Spacemen assumed control.

Another brilliant 70 metre Prout incision found the ever-present Moran for Parkes to race to 18-6 after 25 minutes.

Poor ball security marred the Parkes effort and gifted Forbes field position as the contest effectively lost its momentum.

Appearing in control at 18-6 at oranges, Pat Rosser used the break to emphasise the importance of more commitment and enterprise to match the Forbes enthusiasm.

Finally Moran put Jordan Pope through a gap for Jake Dooley to score a good try for 24-6.

Forbes camped on the Parkes quarter for 10 minutes without success until Ionatana and Dwyer combined to send Prout 30 metres for 30-6.

The final quarter reflected the overall spectacle with both sides continually guilty of poor ball control.

Parkes bombed several tries before Tim Anderson scored a Forbes consolation try after 72 minutes and Brandon Paige flew high to reclaim a Dwyer bomb two minutes from the siren.

PARKES 40 (A. Prout 2, D. Moran, E. Nioko, J. Dooley, A. Ada, B. Paige tries; T. Barrow 3, J. Dooley 3 goals) defeated FORBES 12 ( B. Hodges, T. Anderson tries; T. Ashcroft 2 goals).

Penalties - Parkes 8-5. Referee, Wayne Hughes.

Next Sunday, Round 17, Parkes v Narromine on Pioneer Oval.