By NICK GUTHRIE

IT was billed as one of the matches of the season and Saturday's Group 11 local derby between Macquarie and Westside certainly did not disappoint.

A conversion from 10 metres inside the right sideline from Macquarie's Mason Williams inside the final minute gave his side a 44-42 win in a match that had nearly as much drama as points.

With Macquarie coach Guy Meredith saying in the lead-up his side were aiming to win in order to hurt Westside's finals hopes it was always going to be fiery and it took only until the second hit up for the push and shove to break out.

Williams and Westside's Kurt Fuller were both sin-binned inside five minutes while the biggest incident came 15 minutes into the first half when Rabbitohs skipper Shane Konz and Macquarie's Perry Meredith traded blows and were both sent off by referee Tom Hodgson.

It was an ugly incident, made worse by the fact the push and shove continued up the tunnel as they exited the field, but it should not take away from what was a match that will long live in the memory.

"When you've had the year we've had you appreciate the win and we wanted to do that," Macquarie coach Meredith said.

"We had a tremendous session with the ball on Thursday night and had a really good chat about upsetting Westside's chances and we've done just that and now the pressure is all on them to play some footy and make the five."

Dylan Hill, who captained Westside after Konz's departure, admitted Macquarie were just far too keen on the day while adding it put more pressure on his side's remaining matches.

"Guy (Meredith) came out earlier and said they were out to upset us and they out-enthused us and we couldn't match them," he said.

"We've got Nyngan and Wellington leading into the finals and we've really got to win those if we want to make the top five."

Macquarie got out to an early 16-4 lead but EJ Fernando's double for Westside saw the first half finish at 20-all.

The Rabbitohs played some of their best footy after the break, with Josh Merritt instrumental, and got out to a 32-20 lead but Jade Hooper's sin-binning did not hurt Macquarie and it was soon all level again.

After Hill powered to his second try Widders sealed his hat-trick and Williams' conversion meant it was 38-all with 13 minutes to go.

Viliame Turuva, one of many ex-Macquarie players now with Westside, scored in the corner with eight to go but Corey Cox missed the conversion and as the clock wound down Macquarie came back to seal a famous win.

"They were both terrific today, you couldn't fault them," Meredith said of standouts Widders and Williams.

"It's been a tough year and they understand now when they play as well as they can and don't give the ball up cheaply they can compete."

In terms of the first half fight and send-offs, Hill was disappointed his side let their emotions get the better of them.

"Discipline is something we've been talking about from the start of the year. It's been a major focus and we've really let ourselves down losing players throughout games, that's one thing that has cost us," Hill said.

It was a different case for Raiders mentor Meredith, in his first season back at Dubbo, as he hinted those kind of things happened in derby matches.

"I've been gone 30 years but some things never change," he said.

o MACQUARIE 44 (Ash Widders 4, Mason Williams, Kurt Beahan, Steve Leaske, Phil Combridge tries; Williams 5, Claude Gordon goals) defeated WESTSIDE 42 (EJ Fernando 2, Dylan Hill 2, Corey Cox, Rowan Orcher, Josh Merritt, Viliame Turuva tries; Cox 5 goals)