The Cowboys’ one try victory at Kennard Park saw the two teams swap positions on the points table with just two rounds to play before semi-finals.

While the Magpies had the edge in the earlier games, winning juniors 22-16 and reserve grade 25-0 in front of a hostile Kennard Park crowd, the home team had the upper hand in the main game, scoring six tries to five.

Ethan Ryan, Ben McGregor, Kenneth Everson, Braydon Peachey, Justin Toomey-White and Lewis Stanley crossed the line for the Cowboys, with Stanley converting four of those tries, while Jake Grace, Ethan Gaffney, Joel Davie, Ben Robinson and Rusiate Lawanikula scored four-pointers for the visitors with Haydon Bolam converting three opportunities.

One competition point now separates Wellington and Forbes, making this weekend’s clash with Dubbo Macquarie important if the Magpies want to keep their hopes of a top three finish alive.

Forbes travel to Dubbo this Sunday with another important clash against Parkes at Spooner Oval the following weekend to complete the home-and-away rounds.

Wellington meanwhile play Cobar and Westside in the next fortnight.

Westside are in fifth spot and despite losing to Macquarie in Sunday’s Dubbo derby, may also climb a rung higher on the ladder if they win their remaining matches.

In other results last weekend, CYMS were comfortable winners against Cobar, while Parkes defeated Nyngan.