THE Dubbo Roos came out on top following a highly physical match-up against the Parkes Boars in the Blowes Clothing Cup on Saturday, running away to win the contest 38-19.
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The win didn't always look likely, as the Roos squandered a 24-10 lead in the middle of the second half, taking the foot off the peddle to let Parkes get back within a try of the hosts.
But the heads went back down and the home side scored 14 unanswered points in the closing 20 minutes to run away with the win.
Captain Filisone Pauta said he was proud of the Roos lifting their game after last week's loss at Mudgee, but said Parkes didn't make it easy.
"It was a battle out there today. It was a really physical game but we knew coming from a loss we had to pick up our game," Pauta said.
"Big ups to Parkes for coming out here. They made us work for this win and congratulation to them. I think they played really good, they tested us throughout all areas of the field.
"[We] knew it was always going to be a challenge against Parkes and just happy the boys came through with it."
The seesawing match got off to a slow start, with Dubbo leading 12-5 at the end of a first half riddled with errors.
Shaun McHugh got the Roos on the board when the ball was spread wide, splitting the Boars defence and leaving the big number 6 space to stroll over the line.
Anthony Golding's conversion extended the Roos lead before Rory Nock pushed over for Parkes to keep the scores tight at 7-5.
A try from hard-running youngster Josh Exner set the halftime score at 12-5, and Parkes captain Stuart Taylor said at that point the undermanned Boars knew the game was still there for the taking.
"We just talked, we said look at the score line. There's definitely a contest," Taylor said.
"We've had some tough weeks so definitely when it got to half time we were looking for a win and kept our heads up to work for a win.
"Some tough periods there I guess and just whoever lost that concentration...when we made a mistake Roos got on top of us."
Eli Kinscher opened the scoring in the second half, storming through the Parkes line 40 metres out to put the ball down just beside the posts, with Pauta going over eight minutes later.
Parkes then put the foot down, with Dylan Phillips and Joe Nash getting over for one each to bring the Boars within a try of the leaders.
It was then the Roos stepped up a notch, with Pauta going over for his second before a McHugh banana kick put Brad Pugh over in the corner with just minutes left on the clock.
Golding's fourth successful conversion, right on the buzzer, sealed the deal.
"I'm pretty proud of the boys. You know that last 20 is when you need the brothers to pick up their game and the boys did it today," Pauta said.
"We've just got to learn to be consistent and keep up our game plan throughout the whole game. I think it'll come. Definitely what we need is that consistency.
"Coming against the good teams it will be a struggle right through to the 80. It's good that we're learning now trying to finish strong - not only to start strong but to finish strong too.
"That [performance] gives us hope and I think it gives the boys more energy and being more excited into the next game."
Earlier in the day the Roos downed Parkes 54-0 in the second grade, 31-14 in the thirds and 24-0 in Colts.
DUBBO ROOS 38 (Shaun McHugh, Josh Enxer, Eli Kinscher, Filisone Pauta 2, Brad Pugh tries; Anthony Golding 4 conversions) def PARKES BOARS 19 (Dylan Phillips, Joe Nash, Rory Nock tries; James Dean 2 conversions)