Parkes and Macquarie will fight for survival in the first week of the Group 11 semi-finals while Nyngan and Forbes will battle for the right to meet Dubbo CYMS.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The results in the final round meant there were no major changes to the ladder, with CYMS finishing on top despite a second straight loss.
Nyngan was also assured of second spot regardless of results, while Forbes had a comfortable grip on third and would have been unlucky to lose out.
They will meet on Sunday in Nyngan, with the winner of that game to progress to a major semi-final against Dubbo CYMS at Caltex Park seven days later.
The elimination semi-final will be between Parkes and Macquarie at Pioneer Oval. Parkes had a win against Wellington but had to settle for fourth spot, while Macquarie bring plenty of form despite finishing in fifth.
Their elimination semi-finals will take place at Parkes on Saturday.
Coincidently, Parkes will play in the elimination semi-final in all four grades, meaning their teams will have a big home ground advantage.
In other grades, the Spacecats will take on Macquarie in League Tag. In under 18s Parkes and Nyngan will do battle, while in reserves it will be the Spacemen up against the Wellington Cowboys.
Sunday’s Preliminary Finals games at Larkin Oval will start with the Women’s League Tag between Westside and Forbes.
That will be followed by the reserve grade match between Nyngan and CYMS and the under 18s Dubbo derby between Macquarie and CYMS.
Group 11 will work with teams in the coming days to ensure everything works out ok in terms of scheduling and requirements.
Grounds for the remainder of the finals series won’t be known until later.
Group 11 tries to ensure the top four teams all host a home game during the finals series, so the location for the minor semi-final in week two of the finals won’t be determined until there is a result in the opening round.
The location of the grand final in 2017 is also open for discussion but CYMS will be hoping to return it to Caltex Park and make the debate irrelevant.