CYMS unbeaten run to be tested by Parkes
Daily Liberal - NICK GUTHRIE
Kieran Cubby-Shipp will again be a key part of CYMS' attack on Sunday. Photo: BROOK KELLEHEAR-SMITH
THEY have produced some of the best battles in Group 11's recent history and on Sunday the latest chapter in the Dubbo CYMS and Parkes Spacemen rivalry will be written.
The two powerhouse clubs have fought out the past three grand finals, with the Fishies claiming the two most recent titles.
The two-time defending premiers again find themselves unbeaten at the top of the ladder heading into Sunday's match while Parkes' only loss this season came against Macquarie.
The Spacemen have also been allowing in a surprisingly large amount of points in recent times but CYMS coach Tim Ryan expects Sunday's clash at Caltex Park to be as hard-fought as every other match between the two.
"We haven't seen them in a while, we normally play them in one of the early rounds," he said.
"We're looking forward to it.
"We've had many good battles over the years and we don't expect this one to be any different."
Parkes edged past Narromine 38-30 last week, following on from a 44-16 loss to the Raiders and a 44-34 win over Westside.
They are expected to again be without mercurial captain-coach Dennis Moran, who is still on the comeback trail from snapping his Achilles last year.
"They've only lost the one game and they're up there again," Ryan said despite Parkes' troubles.
"I never expect this to be any different and they've still got guys like Epi (Sadrodo) and (Brendan) Tago up front."
The forward pack will again be one of Parkes' strengths with Tago and Sadrodo joining the likes of Ethan McKellar and Ben Nash.
To counter that the CYMS small men may have plenty of work to do, with one player who has quietly gone about his business in 2016 again expected to be key.
Matt Toole has slotted in seamlessly at halfback with the Fishies since returning to Dubbo this year.
Toole, 21, spent a year of under-18s with CYMS and also Macquarie, but more recently played in Lake Cargelligo, which was also previously home to fellow Fishie Alex Ronayne.
"He does a good job and he's very calm, which I like," Ryan said of his number seven.
"Quite a few of the new boys have slotted right in and they're all mates and I think five or six of them even live together, which always helps.
"Then there's guys like Jordan Reynolds, Ben Marlin and Billy Sing who have been here two or three years now and all around 21 so it's all going pretty well."
The action on Sunday begins with the League Tag at 11am while first grade is expected to kick off at 2.30pm.
DUBBO CYMS: 1 Kieran Cubby-Shipp, 2 Hayden Howell, 3 Jyie Chapman, 4 Colby Pellow, 5 John Grey, 6 Alex Bonham, 7 Matt Toole, 8 Jarryn Powyer, 9 Luke Jenkins, 10 Lincoln Kavanagh, 11 Alex Ronayne, 12 Jordan Reynolds, 13 Ben Marlin, 14 Billy Sing, 15 Shaquille Gordon, 16 Wade Kavanagh