Scoring nine tries to seven in an 84 point avalanche, the Rabbitohs skipped to victory after Parkes led 14-6 early and 26-20 after 45 minutes.

Thrashed by CYMS last week, Westside totally dominated the contest in the final 35 minutes and were much the better side.

They consistently made ground close to the ruck to provide the space for a talented backline to inflict substantial damage out wide.

While the Spacemen were undermanned and skipper Dennis Moran played much of the reserve grade game, few would deny Westside such an important scalp in a scrappy but spirited contest.

The bye comes at a critical time for the Spacemen followed by assignments against the two other Dubbo clubs.

best on a difficult day were again young forwards Jordan Pope and Hayden Robinson and two try hooker Tino Ionatana.

The Spacemen fielded a recast side in first grade with Michael Mitchell (knee) and Brendan Tago (family) unavailable.

The mercurial Moran, after playing most of reserve grade, started in the centres with Jake Porter in the halves and a 16kg lighter Zarin Barber on the bench for the first time.

Honours were shared in the earlier games with Parkes Juniors home 36-10 to balance losses of 30-8 in league tag and 40-20 in reserves.

Prior to the first grade match, a minute’s silence was observed for the late James Ackerman who died on the rugby league field in Queensland last week.

Corey Cox opened the scoring after only seven minutes for Westside but a superb Pope pass put Brandon Paige over for the response five minutes later.

Four minutes further into the match, Tino Ionatana split the defence and brilliant hands by the backs resulted in a great Hayden Robinson try.

Moran goaled from touch for 10-6 and then regathered a dropped Westside pass to race unopposed for 14-6 after 22 minutes.

Westside responded on the back of territory and possession with two good tries to lead 16-14 as the Spacemen struggled for ball security and control.

A Barber surge enabled Ionatana to dive over in the 37th minute but a second Rowan Orcher try on the siren levelled the scores at 20-all at oranges.

Incisions by Kevin Frank and Alex Prout provided the impetus for Ionatana to burrow over when play resumed for Parkes to lead 26-20.

Again Westside responded with a towering Merritt sixth tackle bomb evading the Parkes defence for Fernando to equalise.

Parkes were denied in the 50th minute when Moran, bursting onto a superb Robinson offload, lost the ball as he dived for the line.

Westside regained the lead with a Merritt chip and chase after 54 minutes as fortunes continued to fluctuate and the score mounted at a point a minute.

It was panic stations officially when hooker Ashby dived over for 38-26 with 14 minutes to play, compounded by a Konz try four minutes later to seal the issue.

As the shadows lengthened, a 70 metre solo try by fullback Coe to which the Spacemen responded with late touchdowns to Epi Sadrodro and a deserved one to the tireless Dwyer.

WESTSIDE 48 (R. Orcher 2, S. Coe, C. Cox, J. Merritt, S. Konz, C. Ashby, C. Tairou, J. Fernando tries; Cox 6 goals) defeated PARKES 36 (T. Ionatana 2, S. Dwyer, B. Paige, H. Robinson, E. Sadrodro, D. Moran tries; Moran 4 goals).

Referee, Simon Hartas. Penalties - Westside 7-6.