CENTRAL West retained the Matt Smith Memorial Shield on Saturday evening following an impressive comeback against Northern Riverina at South Dubbo Oval.

The visitors led by five points at the main break but Central West, led by best on ground Dale Cameron, roared back in to the match and went on to win 15.11 (101) to 11.7 (73).

Parkes Panther Cameron kicked three majors in the win while Bathurst Bushranger Matt Griffin was another standout and kicked four.

The win was especially pleasing given how little time the Central West players had spent together and the combinations on the field got better as the match went.

"The guys had a great game," victorious coach Mark Kennedy said,

"Northern Riverina dominated that first half but then we came and took that second half away from them.

"They were a great bunch of guys and went hard at the ball, which is what we want and our skills got better and better as the guys got to know each other through the game."

Northern Riverina coach Nathan Sanson was a dejected figure after the match after so many of his original squad pulled out in the lead up but confessed Central West were the far better team.

"They dominated us on the ground, they were a lot faster than us and the running and carrying of the footy killed us through the centre," he said.

"We had eight or 10 at training and only nine when we got here but a couple of boys who were helping out with the junior grades pulled the boots on so it was a massive effort and we were right in it right up until three-quarter time but I couldn't ask for more from the boys."

The match had been relatively even up until half time but in the third quarter Central West exploded into life, kicking five goals to set up a 20 point lead.

But Northern Riverina lifted again in the final period, kicking the first two goals, before the hosts' dominance started to show.

The lead was extended again before Cameron put it out of reach with his third, which followed some patient and composed ball movement from the back.

"We didn't lose our composure and we didn't panic," Kennedy said in relation to the visitors' two quick goals in the fourth.

"There were a couple of phases where we really controlled the ball in the back line which was good and we took the clock away from them."

Chris Rothnie also kicked three goals in the win while Mick Rothnie was another of his side's best and was singled out for praise by Kennedy, along with Griffin, Sam Kennedy and Tom Regan.

Dubbo Demon Jono Naden was a key part of the backline and was heavily involved each time the ball was worked out towards the middle of the field.

While Sanson was disappointed in the result, he was pleased to see the representative fixture battled out and was hopeful his side would be a stronger one in the future.

"It's probably a bit of a dying thing the rep football," he said.

"A lot of blokes don't want the opportunity to play, for what reason I don't know, but it's a great honour to play and pull a rep jumper on and Id encourage everyone if they got a chance to take it with both hands."

CENTRAL WEST 15.11 (101) def NORTHERN RIVERINA 11.7 (73).