Undefeated duo Dubbo CYMS and Parkes Spacemen to renew rivalry
Nick Guthire - Daily Liberal
KEY: Brad Pickering will guide CYMS around in Sunday's bumper match against Parkes. Photo: BELINDA SOOLE
They are two of the biggest and most successful clubs in Group 11 history and on Sunday afternoon Dubbo CYMS and Parkes will renew hostilities.
Adding to the anticipation and build-up to the clash is the fact both are undefeated heading into Sunday’s round three battle at Caltex Park.
It is always one of the matches most fans of both clubs circle when the draw comes out and while well aware it shapes as one of the matches of the season so far, Fishies coach Tim Ryan isn’t getting too carried away.
“We look forward to all our games. It’s a 14-game competition so we’ve got to be ready each week,” he said.
“We’ve had some good battles and they’re two from two so we’ll have to be on. It should be a good game.”
Ryan confessed his side’s win over Narromine last weekend was a frustrating one, with a reported penalty count of 26-6 blown by referee Ray O’Brien against the Fishies.
We’ve had some good battles and they’re two from two so we’ll have to be on.- CYMS coach Tim Ryan on the Parkes Spacemen.
Three CYMS players were also sin-binned in the match, leaving Ryan hoping for a much more flowing match this time out.
“It’s hard to play a game when you’re being stopped every two minutes,” he said, before speaking about his side’s development this season.
“We really only came together a few weeks ago now so we’ll keep building and improving.
“We’re a long way off (where we want to be) but I don’t think any side would be happy so far. Everyone has improvement in them and will keep building.”
CYMS won both matches against Parkes last season but the Spacemen appear a much stronger force this season, as shown during last weekend’s 30-26 win over Macquarie at Caltex Park.
Captain-coach Dennis Moran stated after that match “any result in Dubbo is a good result for us” and another win on Sunday would further boost the Spacemen’s premiership claims, albeit very early in the season.
Moran was key in the win over the Raiders, as he has been his entire Parkes career, and the former Parramatta Eel has shown his switch to the centres has had no effect on his ability to influence a game.
“Parkes are building and they’ve got a few new blokes, like us, so we’re looking forward to it,” Ryan said, before touching on Moran.
“He’s in the centres now and it looks like they’ve got a couple of good halves to lead them around so it won’t all revolve around him but he’ll still be involved.”
Fletcher Strong is another the Fishies will have to be wary of after the flying winger, undeniably one of the the fastest players in Group 11, scored a first half hat-trick in last week’s win.
For CYMS, Fijian recruits Maika Serulevu, Kelevi Ralulu and Joeby Vetaukula are all settling in and starting to make an impact, with the latter expected to feature in Sunday’s clash.
CYMS’ home matches at Caltex Park will start earlier than regular fixtures this season, with League Tag kicking-off at 10am.