A Dubbo derby is always a big match for any Macquarie or CYMS player but there is even more to play for in Saturday’s under-18s fixture with it being an elimination match.
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The two foes meet in the minor semi-final at Parkes with the winner to advance to a meeting with minor premiers Wellington while the loser will have their season ended.
The Raiders will begin as favourites having finished six points of CYMS on the ladder and having also beaten the Fishies on the two previous occasions the sides met this season.
While it has been Macquarie cheering at the final whistle on both occasions, they have been hard-fought affairs with the results being 28-10 and 16-14.
The Raiders, coached by Hale Gordon, will be led by star duo Luke Gale and Kane McDermott, who have both represented NSW Country, while the likes Jai Merritt and John Ciappara are also real threats.
CYMS just scraped into the post-season with only a Parkes loss to Forbes seeing the Bernard Wilson and Wayne Sing-coached Fishies through.
The Fishies only won five of their 14 regular season matches but that was enough to get them into the business end of the year.
The performance of halves duo Bayden Searle and Matt Burton will go a long way to deciding CYMS’ fate and they will hope to capitalise off the work done by the physical forward pack, led by the likes of Jack Davis and Tyson Fuller.
Saturday’s minor semi-final will be played at Forbes’ Spooner Oval.
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.
