Finals time will arrive one week early in the New Holland Agriculture Cup with Parkes and Narromine to meet in a do-or-die battle next Saturday.
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Not even a swarm of bees which forced both sets of players to hit the deck could slow Narromine on Saturday as the Gorillas ran out 64-0 winners over an under strength CSU at Cale Oval.
Narromine sits second on the ladder, one point ahead of the third-placed Parkes Boars.
The two sides meet next weekend and with the top two advancing straight to the grand final this season it will all be on the line at Pioneer Oval.
Mudgee wrapped up the minor premiership on Saturday by defeating the Dubbo Rhinos 50-19.
The loss brought an end to the Rhinos' season as the Dubbo side has the bye in next weekend's final round.
The Rhinos won just the one game this year and that came via a CSU forfeit.
Mudgee now advances to the September 26 grand final, which it will host, and the Wombats will keeping a keen eye on next weekend's match at Parkes.
The Gorillas warmed up for the crunch fixture in style when cruising past a battling CSU on Saturday.
CSU has struggled for much of the season with many of the students currently not in Bathurst and learning remotely because of COVID-19 and the battling side was no match for the experienced Gorillas.
Doug Potter scored a double and booted six conversions in the victory.
CSU coaching staff member Peter Plunkett said Narromine deserved praise for catering to the students in the match.
"We tried different things and they maintained their structure but they just couldn't maintain possession against the bigger and stronger side," he said.
"Towards the end our blokes were still running back to halfway ready to go again. They hadn't thrown the towel in.
"Narromine were empathetic to our situation. Both Narromine and Mudgee have now given us players in second grade, for what was effectively a trial game. Half of our first grade side was probably coming from that second grade team.
"They also allowed us to play uncontested scrums and let us keep our full compliment."
There was one dramatic moment in the match, with both sets of players forced to hit the deck as a swarm of bees went over Cale 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.
