After getting through what he described as the most physical game of the season, Dubbo CYMS reserve grade captain Hewitt Haycock immediately set sights on his side's "biggest game of the year".
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The Fishies were tested by a physical and willing Forbes side in Saturday's Group 11 qualifying semi-final, but a 20-12 victory means they meet minor premiers Nyngan in next weekend's major semi.
The winner of that one goes into the reserve grade decider, and Haycock's men may be battered and bruised but they'll go into the game confident and motivated.
"Coming off the last three weeks where we've been playing some ordinary football, we try to put it together before finals," Haycock said.
"Especially for next week against Nyngan. That's going to be our biggest game of the year seeing as though we've lost twice to them and both times they put it all over us.
"We've got to prove something next week."
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Saturday's match at Kennard Park was a real slog for both sides, with the warm conditions and some errors from both sides meaning no-one got on top early.
Eventually CYMS started to make some headway with club legend Luke Jenkins getting more and more involved.
Some smart work at dummyhalf from the multiple first grade premiership winner put fullback Kaide Rapley over for the first try on 20 minutes and the hooker was heavily involved again just three minutes later when putting Nacewa Nalagi over.
The Magpies got on the board when they landed a penalty goal after the half-time siren to go into the sheds down 12-2 and then they dominated the ball early in the second half.
The Fishies' defence held firm time and time again but eventually it cracked as a Matt Roylance cut-out pass put Kaine Fry over.
That gave the Magpies a sniff but Roylance went from hero to zero when he was sin-binned for dissent and CYMS scored while he was off through Sam McDermott to take control again and make it 16-6.
The sides swapped tries in the final minutes and CYMS went on to win by eight, with Haycock saying the presence of experienced campaigners like Jenkins, Jordan Reynolds, and Matt Toole has made a real difference.
"We've had a young side the last three years and this year with a few older blokes like 'Jenko' coming in has been really good," he said.
The skipper added his side needed to cut out the large amount of dropped ball in next weekend's minor semi-final.
Forbes will take on Wellington in next weekend's minor semi-final after the Cowboys knocked out the Parkes Spacemen on Sunday.
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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.
