CYMS maintained its Group 11 dominance over rivals Macquarie and remains unbeaten at the top of the ladder but the Fishies were pushed right to the final seconds in what finished a 12-11 win.

An ugly second-half melee resulting in the sending off of Macquarie's Jack Kavanagh and one player from each side being sin-binned marred what was an otherwise enthralling clash.

The physicality and speed of the game, particularly in the first half, was a level above what has been seen this season as the two sides threw everything at each other.

Both sides lost players to injury during the first half and while both were also guilty of some scrappy play at times it was second-half double for CYMS centre Jeremy Thurston that proved decisive.

"It feels good," Thurston said with a smile after winning his first Dubbo derby.

"There's just the hype around it but the boys dug deep."

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The win was particularly pleasing given the stop-start nature of the season and this being just the second game CYMS has played in the last month.

"It's been hard to get the momentum and the match fitness isn't where we want to be," Thurston said,

"Against Nyngan and this week we've had to dig deep and it's been a real test but we're the best team for a reason."

The Raiders led 7-4 at half-time as exciting new recruit Wyndham Peachey, the son of Raiders great and former NRL star David, knocked over a field goal right on the bell.

Tensions simmered throughout the second half but with 19 minutes to go things boiled over after Kavanagh collected Jyie Chapman with one of the many high shots seen during the match.

Players from both sides came rushing in and once referee Simon Hartas conferred with his touch judges he marched Kavanagh and gave Raiders teammate Filisione Pauta and Ali Beale of CYMS 10 minutes in the bin.

Thurston's double in the final 15 minutes put CYMS in control but Alex Bonham missed both conversions to keep the Raiders in with a chance.

It's a chance they took as when Peachey muscled his way over in the corner with seven minutes to go it gave Matt Naden a chance to put Macquarie in front again.

But his difficult sideline conversion was waved away and CYMS, while not helping themselves with a number of late handling errors, held on.

"It hurts a bit," Raiders captain-coach Alex Ronayne said.

"We dug deep and it would have been nice to get those two points but we know what CYMS is like and they're going to keep coming until the end.

"We had 11 players on there at one stage and that's hard, especially against CYMS."

Ronayne said there was definite positives for his side - the performance of five-eighth Peachey one of the biggest - but the result marks a third successive loss for the Raiders.

The side remains fourth on the ladder but Nyngan is now only one point back after Sunday's win over Narromine.

CYMS remains clear at the top and it was another outstanding performance from Thurston that was key.

The outside back has turned his game around at the Fishies, having first linked up with the side during last year's Presidents Cup after years bouncing around other Group 11 clubs.

His first try on Sunday came soon after Kavanagh's send off while his second came after he shifted back to fullback and showcased his ability to inject himself at the right time.

CYMS was attacking but struggling to make any great impact but Thurston got the ball in the middle of the park, skipped past one attempted tackle and then powered through a gap and towards the line to score what turned out to be the match-winner.

"I'm enjoying it heaps with the boys. I'm glad I came to this club," he said.

"You've got to back yourself and your ability. The gap opened up and it was between two front-rowers so I just went for it."

Chapman had earlier scored CYMS' first try to open the scoring for the match in the 10^th minute after an Alex Bonham bomb had been spilled by Tyler Bamblett.

The Fishies lost Ben Marlin to a head knock soon after and the Raiders lost Richie Peckham to the same injury, but not before he'd produced a lovely flat pass to put Filisione Pauta over in the 20^th minute.

Naden's conversion put CYMS in front and Peachey's field goal added to the lead but in all the drama of the second 40 minutes it was Thurston's double which decided the contest.

The result continues CYMS' derby dominance and the men in green and white have not been beaten by the Raiders in first grade since 2012.

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