PAT Rosser knew four weeks out from the semi-finals that he had a team capable of winning the 2013 Group 11 premiership and that prophecy came true yesterday when his Parkes Spacemen stunned Dubbo CYMS 30-18 in the grand final at Apex Oval.
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Rosser has guided a number of his town’s talented juniors into the top grade this year, and when the season started he thought finals might have been a good result.
But gradually the Spacemen have improved and with three wins over the highly-touted CYMS they are deserved premiers.
Five-star performances from Bob Weir Medallist Chad Porter and Rosser himself helped the Parkes side lead early before overcoming a half-time deficit to score their second premiership win in four years after previously beating Wellington in 2010.
“This group has just grown all year and this is an amazing result for our players and our town,” Rosser said.
“I know most people thought CYMS were favourites but that was fine by us, we just sat back and did our own thing.
“I really started to believe a month out from the semis that we were a chance and when we went to Nyngan in the first week of the finals and won that really boosted my confidence.”
After a rugged opening 10 minutes which saw CYMS back-rower Ryan Marlin denied a try due to a forward pass it was Parkes that opened the scoring in the 13th minute when centre Josh Hook planted the ball down in the corner after a classy pass from Dennis Moran.
Five minutes later the Spacemen capitalised on Blake Tremain-Cannon failing to find touch from a penalty, with Jordan Pope’s try and Porter’s conversion making the score 10-0.
But CYMS didn’t win the minor premiership for no reason, and when Daryl Cubby’s try in the 27th minute was followed by one to Tremain-Cannon off a sweet Luke Jenkins pass nine minutes later the Fishies were in front and looking good.
Both sides knew the early stages of the second half would be vital and it was Parkes that won that battle. Porter crossed eight minutes after play resumed to give Parkes a 16-12 lead and for the following 15 minutes the contest was a real arm-wrestle.
But it was blown wide open in a five-minute period from the 65th minute to the 70th when the Spacemen piled on 14 points.
Porter scored and converted before nailing a penalty goal before Dennis Moran sealed the victory when he backed up a break from Rosser. Daryl Cubby scored for CYMS with five minutes remaining but it was too little, too late as the Spacemen were left to sing their team song in the middle of Apex Oval.
CYMS coach Tim Ryan, who started the match at halfback but wasn’t seen after the first 20 minutes of the first half due to a hip injury, was philosophical about his team’s performance.
“They were just too good again and credit to them,” Ryan said.
“They started well but we got ourselves back into it and I think at half-time when we led we looked pretty good.
“But we weren’t able to kick away from them early in the second half. They hung in there and they deserved to win.
“It’s a tough way to end our season but the club will be back next year.”
But on a day in which the Spacemen reigned supreme, the last word goes to Rosser.
“To do this with this group of boys ranks right up there with anything I’ve done in sport, whether it be league or cricket,” he said.
“We’ve had our older guys work hard and our young blokes have just fit into the system so well. We had a two-year plan with bringing those juniors into first grade and we’ve achieved this in year one.
“CYMS are a great side and they’ve had a very good year but we’ll celebrate tonight because it’s been a bloody big achievement.”
