He's one of the youngest coaches in Group 11 but Sam Dwyer was given a few grey hairs during a sensational Group 11 juniors minor semi-final on Sunday.
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Dwyer's Parkes Spacemen downed Wellington in a match which went for an hour longer than scheduled.
The clash at Nyngan's Larkin Oval, played across two thirty minute halves, went for more than an hour-and-a-half after a lengthy injury delay and then extra-time.
But the Spacemen, who played the final stages of regular time and first minutes of the extra period a man down, came from a half-time deficit to win 28-18 and keep their season alive.
"That last 10-15 minutes of the game I was chewing my fingers off and then in extra-time, I've never done that before but it was good to get the win," Dwyer said.
Parkes scored first in the sudden death clash but the Cowboys struck twice - one of those a brilliant chip and chase from prop Jarrod Peachey - to take the lead before half-time.
The Cowboys led by two heading into the final 10 minutes and when Parkes' Cody Crisp was sin-binned for a shoulder charge it appeared Wellington was set to advance.
But a late penalty goal from Mitch Wright sent the match into extra-time and inside three minutes of the restart the Spacemen struck.
Following a Cowboys knock-on, a slick shift from right to left put centre Raiden Choyce over.
A serious knee injury to Cowboys centre Ben Cook right on half-time of extra-time required ambulance attention and caused a lengthy delay, but Parkes controlled proceedings after the restart and a late four-pointer for fullback Benji Glasheen, a standout in the victory, sealed the result.
"I knew they'd be able to do it. They're all pretty good mates and work hard for each other," Dwyer said.
"We knew we could win and we knew we had the strike-power but we just hold the ball, get to the kick, and grind it out we'd get the win."
The Spacemen will now meet Dubbo CYMS in next weekend's preliminary final at Forbes.
The winner of that one will meet last season's premiers, the Forbes Magpies, in the grand final.
The Magpies produced a classy performance on Saturday to down CYMS in the major semi.
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Led by another strong showing from the forward pack and smart work from hooker Campbell Woolnough, the Magpies won 32-20 at Apex Oval.
"We were a bit worried about what could happen because last time we came here they [CYMS] really give it to us and taught us a bit of a lesson so it was good we did what we did today," winning coach Jason Kennedy said.
"We hit a flat spot after that CYMS game but we built it up against Parkes and Wellington and we want to keep improving on that."
The win was set-up early on Saturday, as the Magpies began brilliantly and shot out to a 16-0 lead inside 20 minutes.
Forwards Harrison Leadbitter and Jack Hartwig, the latter showing tremendous leg drive, were among the early try-scorers and they, along with the likes of Tom Phillips and Kyle McClenahan dominated the contest.
"When you've got blokes like Tom Phillips and Jack Hartwig, they set it up," Kennedy said, also praising Woolnough,
"He bides his time and when it's time to hit he does and the forward pack was really good."
MAJOR SEMI-FINAL
- FORBES MAGPIES 32 (Connor Greenhalgh, Billy Dukes, Thomas Toohey, Harrison Leadbetter, Jack Hartwig, Kyle McClenahan tries; Toohey 4 goals) defeated DUBBO CYMS 20 (Kyjuan Crawford, Jordi Madden, Randall Dowling, Braye Porter tries; Dowling 2 goals)
MINOR SEMI-FINAL
- PARKES SPACEMEN 28 (Benji Glasheen, Raiden Choyce, Harrison Pearn, Ben Lovett, Finnley Neilsen tries; Mitch Wright 4 goals) defeated WELLINGTON 18 (Jarrod Peacehey, Rylee Blackhall, Quincy Ross tries; Deakin Flick 3 goals).