Josh Merritt impressed on his Nyngan Tigers debut but Dubbo CYMS controlled proceedings at Larkin Oval on Sunday to maintain its unbeaten record at the Group 11 season’s halfway point.
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CYMS never trailed in the grand final rematch and ran out 36-26 winners over an improved Tigers outfit.
Merritt, who linked with Nyngan midweek after departing Bathurst St Pats and Group 10, was heavily involved in most of the good a near full-strength Tigers did at home but in the end it wasn’t enough.
The Fishies led 12-0 after 16 minutes and while Nyngan crossed twice it was the defending premiers who went into the sheds at half-time with an 18-8 lead.
At a chilly Larkin Oval it was the hosts who scored first after the break to get within four points but that would be as close as they would get.
The battle up front was key and props Lincoln Kavanagh and Nick Harvey were busy again, the former being one of the try-scorers while Hamsih Astill again did the job standing in for the injured Luke Jenkins and was another to cross.
Representative five-eighth Alex Bonham was also solid as ever and scored one of the key four-pointers in the victory, the Fishies’ seventh in a row to start the season.
The unbeaten CYMS now sits four points clear at the top while Nyngan is now two wins outside the top five.
However, the performance of Merritt will provide hope going into the second round.
The Tigers face another huge task next weekend away at Wellington while CYMS travels to Narromine’s Cale Oval to take on the winless Jets.
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.
