Macquarie ensures it's a Dubbo derby to remember but CYMS takes its chances and remains unbeaten

Nick Guthrie - Daily Liberal

DERBY DELIVERS: CYMS edged out Macquarie in one of the most enthralling matches of the Group 11 season on Saturday. Photo: BELINDA SOOLE

Macquarie co-coach Zac Rennick remains calm about his side's final hopes but was left shattered after seeing another committed effort against one of Group 11's top sides go unrewarded.

The Raiders gave CYMS, celebrating indigenous round, its biggest test of the season at Caltex Park on Saturday in an enthralling edition of one of Dubbo's fiercest rivalries.

Arguably the most intense and outstanding match played in Group 11 since last season's epic grand final between CYMS and Forbes, the Fishies were forced to dig deep to claim a 14-4 win.

CYMS coach Tim Ryan again wasn't totally convinced by his side's performance, the still-unbeaten Fishies gave away 17 penalties in the contest and Jarryn Powyer and Luke Jenkins were both sin binned at different times for swearing.

And while while Rennick was pleased with his side he lamented the fact the Raiders were again walking away empty-handed.

"I'm just gutted. The effort is there," Rennick said after the match.

"No one can question our effort week in, week out but we're just struggling to turn that effort into rewards and points and that makes it difficult."

The sides went into half time all square at 4-4 but the Raiders refused to drop off even when CYMS scored through a charging Maika Serulevu 19 minutes into the second stanza.

But with nine minutes remaining Viliame Turuva got his arms free and did brilliantly to offload to a flying Kieran Cubby-Shipp 40m from the Raiders line and the Fishies fullback did the rest to score a try that sealed the result.

"It was a good contest and a close one," Ryan said.

"I think we were good without being outstanding and Macquarie were good too.

"We look at the process more than the result each week and it was pretty pleasing this week. We got a good contest and we stayed in the battle but there's a few things we need to work out too."

Chances were few and far between during an even and physical opening 20 minutes but it was CYMS which broke through first.

A loose offload from Macquarie inside its own half went to ground and after the Fishies swooped on it there was only a couple of plays until Jenkins put five-eighth Brad Pickering over.

Alex Bonham’s conversion was waved away before the Fishies defence stood firm under plenty of pressure from the Raiders.

The run of penalties was punished further when Powyer was binned approaching half time and the Raiders captalised, with some Josh Merritt magic setting up the leveller.

Halfback Merritt regathered a chip kick of his own and it was soon after that Wade Peachey scored out wide to level it up.

Unlike many sides who have played CYMS this season, Macquarie didn’t drop off in the second half and they in fact lifted, with the match becoming more physical and played with more feeling as the minutes ticked by.

Midway through the second half CYMS’ pressure paid off when a hard-running Serelevu scored and then Turuva’s ability to find Cubby-Shipp, who had one of his best matches of the season, sealed the match.

“We're always in it and there or thereabouts but we're just not getting across the line,” Rennick said.

“We had our opportunities there tonight but spilt our lollies a couple of times. But full credit to CYMS, they've only lost one game in a couple of years and they know how to grind it out.”

Macquarie remains fifth but could fall down the ladder should Wellington defeat Narromine on Sunday afternoon.

“There's three weeks to go and we play the sides who are battling for that spot so it's there for us to get and it's there for them to beat us,” Rennick said of the finals.

DUBBO CYMS 14 (Brad Pickering, Maika Serulevu, Kieran Cubby-Shipp tries; Alex Bonham goal) defeated DUBBO MACQUARIE 4(Wade Peachey try)