Justin Toomey-White and his Wellington Cowboys had just suffered only their second loss of the season but the captain-coach couldn't help but smile.
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Not because of the performance on Sunday afternoon but because the win at Kennard Park by the Nyngan Tigers was further proof of this season's Group 11 title race being the most even in some time.
The Nyngan victory at Wellington wasn't the only eye-catching result on Sunday as across at Parkes the Spacemen bounced back from a couple of disappointing results to defeat a Macquarie side which had appeared to be finding its best form.
The top five in Group 11 may have already been known heading into the weekend but with CYMS, Wellington, Macquarie, Nyngan, and Parkes matching each other for a lot of the season it sets up a massive final two rounds and a finals series which is sure to have fans enthralled.
"For spectators of Group 11 it's awesome to see," Toomey-White said.
"The five are starting to play some awesome footy."
The results in round 12 make next weekend's fixtures even more appealing.
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In what could be a hugely decisive weekend, the Nyngan Tigers will carry momentum into a massive home clash with competition leaders Dubbo CYMS, who are coming off a bye, while both Macquarie and Wellington will be out to rediscover their best form when they do battle at Apex Oval.
Add into the mix the latest meeting between fierce rivals Forbes and Parkes and next weekend could be the best round of action in what has already been a hugely entertaining season.
"No game is a given and it's a good time of the season," Toomey-White added on Sunday.
CYMS now sits two points clear at the top of the ladder after the weekend's results but the Fishies haven't had things all their own way in 2021.
Wellington is the one team to defeat the men in green and white but coach Shawn Townsend felt lucky to escape Parkes with a win earlier in the season after his side scored two tries in the final five minutes to steal maximum points.
Nyngan matched CYMS for long periods in their previous contest earlier in the year while the Fishies only got the better of Macquarie by one point in a gripping derby in round seven.
Twelve matches in total this season have been decided by 10 points or less in first grade and three of those results have come in the last two rounds.
It's a similar story in the lower grades with CYMS on top of each ladder but plenty of pressure being applied from below.
CYMS is all but certain to finish with the minor premiership in league tag this season but perennial contenders Parkes has only lost twice this season while Macquarie, Forbes, and Nyngan have all shown improvement and are bound for the finals.
CYMS and Macquarie are locked on 20 points each at the top of the reserve grade ladder while Wellington and Nyngan are both next with 16 points and Forbes and Parkes are battling for the final spot in the top five and are currently both on 10.
In juniors, CYMS and Macquarie have been a step ahead of their rivals all season.
The Fishies are one point ahead of their local rivals heading into the final two rounds,
The Ben Williams-coached side hasn't been beaten but did play out a 10-all draw with Forbes, while the Raiders have only been beaten once.
Forbes, Nyngan, and Parkes look set to join the Dubbo sides in the finals.
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