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FOR the third successive year the Group 11 grand final will be fought out between Dubbo CYMS and Parkes after the Spacemen defeated the Wellington Cowboys 28-20 in Sunday's preliminary final.
It also marks the sixth grand final for Parkes in the last seven years, set up on Sunday by fighting qualities and a committed defensive effort to subdue the Cowboys as tempers frayed in a frenetic final quarter.
Despite a territorial and possession disadvantage, the Spacemen scored five tries to lead 28-4 after 50 minutes and seemingly have the match wrapped up.
But, after Parkes led 6-2 in the penalty stakes, the Cowboys received eight of the remaining nine to place tremendous pressure on the Spacemen defence.
Three unanswered Wellington tries reduced the lead to 28-20, but Dennis Moran's men were not to be denied.
In front of a bumper crowd at Forbes' Spooner Oval, with gate takings of more than $10,000, Parkes started the better despite the absence of Sam Dwyer and Hayden Robinson.
Tino Ionatana, one of Parkes' best, earned a restart with a grubber into the in-goal and from that Brendan Tago barged over to open the scoring.
Wellington got back on top but Parkes extended their lead against the run of play when Prout crossed and referee Troy Warner ruled an eight point try for illegal attention to Prout in scoring the try.
The Cowboys again had a stack of possession and made it count with Whitney's Jewellers Group 11 Player of the Year Justin Toomey-White crossing to make it 12-4.
One of the highlights of match came shortly after when Moran seemed destined to score only for young gun Kotoni Staggs to incredibly stop the Parkes captain-coach from planting the ball down when he was in goal.
But Moran then orchestrated a try for his side as he put the outstanding Prout over for his second to make it 16-4 and that was extended soon after when Jordan Pope to set up a 22-4 half time lead.
Almost immediately after the break, a rampaging 30 metre bust from Zarin Barber led to Moran kicking on the third tackle and he was able to regather beside the posts.
Nathan Smith crossed shortly after for the Cowboys just when it seemed like Parkes could run away with it and Staggs then crossed following a Joey Williams bomb to make it 28-14 with 15 to go.
Williams showed all his class and guile to score six minutes later with a show and go and at 28-20 it was shaping as a grandstand finish.
Successive penalties enabled the Cowboys to exert tremendous pressure as the minutes ticked by but the Parkes defence held them out.
With three minutes left, tempers frayed and four players, including Parkes' Dave Masoe, were binned.
In a chaotic conclusion another Cowboys player was marched on the siren as referee Warner called a halt to confirm another Spacemen grand final appointment.
PARKES SPACEMEN 28 (Alex Prout 2, Dennis Moran, Jordan Pope, Brandan Tago tries; Moran 2, Parker 2 goals) defeated WELLINGTON COWBOYS 20 (Kotoni Staggs, Nathan Smith, Justin Toomey-White, Joe Williams tries; Williams 2 goals)