Tallon Smith
Dubbo CYMS are the Peter McDonald Premiership champions for the second time in three seasons after a 23-22 win over the Forbes Magpies in an all-time classic Grand Final at Apex Oval on Sunday.
A clutch Jeremy Thurston field goal sealed the deal for the Fishies, avenging their loss to the Magpies in the inaugural decider three years ago and adding to their 2023 triumph over Mudgee to put the club on the brink of a bush footy dynasty.
Dubbo CYMS President Nick Sykes said that it was a great achievement to become the first team to win the Peter McDonald Premiership twice.
“It was a proud moment, it’s a huge achievement for the club,” he said.
“It was a close contest, they actually beat us with a field goal over there in the only other time we played them, so we’ve had two games this year, both won by field goals.
“A couple of years ago they beat us in a grand final by a field goal, Farren Lamb, who was halfback that day, playing in the centres yesterday, kicked a field goal to bury us a few years ago.
“It’s just a rivalry that’s got another chapter, I guess, two great clubs, and we got the chocolates.”
Sykes said that CYMS started slow before wrestling back the ascendancy late in the opening half.
“They started the better to be honest, they scored first, they probably were definitely in front, after the first 20
“We got a bit of momentum back and scored twice, [and] were looking pretty good coming into half time and then they scored right on half time to level it up.”
An even second half then followed, with the two sides trading tries to finish locked at 22-all, before an attacking set of six that will live in Fishies folklore forever followed in extra time.
“Jarryn Powyer, our captain, played the whole game in the front row and made a 40-metre break, and then little Troyden Dixon came on off the bench and he made a half break,” Sykes said.
“Mitchell Cleary had a hit up and a quick play-the-ball, and big Jeremy Thurston stood up and did what he does and sealed it for us.
“It was just one of those games that could have gone either way, a big crowd, and it was just an epic game.”
It was a double dose of success for the Fishies after CYMS took out a second title earlier in the day with a 34-8 win over Bathurst Panthers in the Tom Nelson Under 18s Grand Final.
A double to Maddox Barton and a strong performance from halfback Alex Maas saw the Dubbo outfit secure a comfortable victory over the lone Group 10 representatives on the day in the Panthers.
Meanwhile, in the Reserve Grade decider, the Nyngan Tigers took home the title with a 16-8 win over Dubbo Macquarie.
A Cale Dunn double propelled the Tigers to the premiership, the club’s first title since the 2022 Under 18s.
Finally, Macquarie finished with a premiership as well after starting the day with a 14-12 win over cross-town rivals CYMS in the League Tag Grand Final.
A Millie Sutcliffe double helped the Raiders over the line in the closely fought encounter.
