FORBES will meet a besieged Dubbo Macquarie in the Group 11 minor semi-final on Saturday after both sides enjoyed very different opening weeks of finals football.
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The Magpies confirmed their passage through to the second week of the semi-finals after two stunning second half tries from young Forbes winger Dylan Gunn helped knock over Parkes 32-26 on last Saturday.
In the premiership’s elimination semi-final at Spooner Oval, the Magpies were brilliant against a dogged Spacemen.
While Macquarie’s Josh Merritt and Kini Talaulucavu were sent from the field in their 32-22 loss to Nyngan.
This weekend Forbes travels to Dubbo’s Caltex Oval and coach coordinator Cameron Greenhalgh says it would be good to have some local support.
He says the Magpies are in a good place both physically and mentally.
“We just have the one injury, Jarrod Reid is still out, but it will be much the same side as last week,” he said.
The first grade side focussed on defence this week after feeling they allowed Parkes back into the game with mistakes at crucial times last week.
“We’ve got the defence sorted out,” Greenhalgh said.
“We will be looking for a better game against Macquarie because we will need one.
“The attitude at training this week was excellent. Everyone wants to continue in the competition.”
Forbes’ under 18s and league tag sides are also off to Dubbo on Saturday, needing wins to stay in the competition.
Co-coach of Forbes’ under 18s Magpies Ben Robinson says the juniors will need to step up when they face Macquarie at Caltex Park this Saturday.
The juniors went down to Nyngan last weekend by just one point – Nyngan got a field goal in the last two minutes of the game.
It was a disappointing finish to the game, but co-coach Ben Robinson said last weekend’s loss was really down to some costly mistakes at crucial times.
The side has had some excellent performances this season and is now looking to develop consistency.
The Magpies made a promising start to last weekend’s fixture – which was hosted in Nyngan.
“Our attack was all right, we were rolling through them,” Robinson said.
“But our defence wasn’t up to par, they were rolling through us.
“We had a bit of a talk at half time and our defence really stepped up – the second half was a lot better.”
This weekend’s side for the away game is expected to be much the same as last week, with a couple of changes.
“Isaac Scott and Matt Woolnough put us on the front foot last weekend,” Robinson said.
“Farren Lamb had a good game playing fullback and he will move to the wing this week.”
Tuesday night training for the under 18s focussed on their attacking game, aiming to create more opportunities.
reenhalgh is also hoping Forbes’ league tag side performs well this weekend.
“They beat one of the top sides in the competition (Parkes) a couple of weeks ago so they are capable of a win at Dubbo as well,” he said.
Forbes’ girls trounced Parkes Spacecats when they hosted them at Spooner Oval two weeks ago, but could not repeat the performance when the two sides met again last Saturday.
The Magpies were first to score, leading 4-0 approaching half time, but went down 22-12.
This weekend they meet Dubbo Westside.
