Dubbo CYMS sits unbeaten at the top of the league tag ladder at the Group 11 season's midway point and, in a warning to rivals, coach Kaitlyn Mason believes the side can go to another gear.
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The Fishies maintained bragging rights over locals rivals Macquarie on Sunday courtesy of a grinding 10-0 win at Apex Oval.
The Raidettes were gutsy and threw everything they had at the ladder-leaders, but it was CYMS' vast array of game-breakers who decided the contest.
Tiffany Stanley is a player who fits into that category and she has provided CYMS with another element in attack this season.
Her runaway try just before half-time proved to be the biggest moment of the match as no points were scored in the second stanza.
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CYMS was able to hold the Raidettes out even when they were down a player in the final stages after Demi Wilson was sent-off for an alleged headbutt on Haley Butcherine.
"It's good that we have those close games and the resilience we showed as a team really stood out, and it's only going to better us going into the finals," Mason said of the win.
Macquarie coach Brian Furner was understandably disappointed to lose but he was proud of the valiant effort of his players but also gave praise for the unbeaten CYMS and their leading coach.
"She's the Craig Bellamy. She gets the best out of her players," Furner said of Mason.
"We were in the game but CYMS is the pinnacle."
CYMS went into Sunday's match again without the outstanding attacking talent of Madi Crowe but with the likes of Stanley, Kimberlee Gordon, and Nic Grose all directing play the Fishies were able to maintain control of the match.
"She (Crowe) will be back in the next two weeks and I think since the start of the season we haven't really played with our full squad, so it will be interesting to get us all there," Mason said.
"I think we have more improvement in us and we'll work on that."
The pace of CYMS was crucial in Sunday's win and a quick shift to the right midway through the first half resulted in the first points.
Centre Grace Pilon was able to run in space and then she found winger Millie Gooch and the speedster had no trouble darting over in the corner.
The Raidettes were able to contain the highly-regarded CYMS attack for long periods but two minutes before the break Stanley skipped passed a couple of attempted tags in her own half and then burst into space.
She raced away to score under the post and Gordon's conversion proved to be the final points of the game.
The Raidettes enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half, with former Fishie Em Caton particularly impressive, but they couldn't find a way through.
Wilson and Butcherine came together in a late flare-up but, outside of that moment, Mason was pleased with the way her side handled the occasion.
"It's been a big talk since the start of the season and the girls really stood up and handled it as a team," she said.
"Defence is what wins you games and that's always been our go-to and the girls defended well and stood up to the test."
Furner made note of CYMS' physicality after the match, saying "they're not worried about putting their bodies on the line for non-contact tag" but said he was proud of his players and wants to see more in the coming weeks.
The Raidettes sit fourth on the ladder after seven rounds, with three wins and three losses to their name.
"We're just lacking our cohesion. When we do gel it looks good but it's just a matter of working on our set-plays and knowing who we need to support," he said.
- DUBBO CYMS 10 (Millie Gooch, Tiffany Stanley tries; Kimberlee Gordon goal) defeated MACQUARIE RAIDETTES 0