The Forbes Platypi put more distance between them and sixth place in Central West Rugby on Saturday when they beat the Parkes Boars 21-15 at Northparkes Oval.
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Forbes went into the match in fifth place on the Blowes Clothing Cup ladder and needed a win to keep their semi-final hopes on track.
They delivered with a late try in the second half.
As the whistle blew for the start of the game, Parkes received an early chance to open the scoring with a penalty, but were unsuccessful.
After five minutes it was the Platypi who opened the scoring when a handling error gifted prop Kyle Sharpe a try with the successful conversion making the score 7-0.
After successive penalties for a scrum collapse and offside, the Boars opened their account with a penalty goal, followed by an unconverted try which placed them in the lead 8-7.
Forbes hit back just before half-time when Jarrod Hall crossed from a maul on the five metre line, putting Forbes back in front 14-8.
After near tries from both teams, Parkes scored from a five-metre scrum, and converted bringing the lead back to Parkes 15-14, with 26 minutes of play remaining.
Forbes lifted their intensity and with 12 minutes remaining, Jarrod Hall pushed through the Boars defence to find the line.
The first conversion attempt was missed before Forbes were given a second chance as Parkes were deemed to have verbally intimidated the kicker from behind the line.
The Platypi held on for the important win, securing their fifth place in the competition and putting them just two points behind Bathurst who are in fourth place.
The Platypi will play their third last match before semi-finals this Saturday at home against equal competition leaders Dubbo Kangaroos.
Forbes convincingly won second grade 52-0 but were beaten 15-10 in colts.