The Tigers’ 32-24 triumph over the Rhinos rockets the black and golds to equal-third on the ladder with Eugowra, with differential bumping Canowindra to fourth place.

The Tigers should pick up wins over Condobolin and then Burrangong in the coming weeks, too, with matches against Trundle and Eugowra in the penultimate and final rounds respectively likely to determine where exactly the black and golds will land in the Woodbridge Cup top five.

For Manildra, the eight-point loss dips the Rhinos to fifth on the ladder on 20 points, but hopes of a top three finish are still alive with just one win separating second from fifth in a congested first grade table.

On Saturday, the Grenfell Goannas recorded a 56-16 win to move into outright second with 22 points, while the Golden Eagles continued to build late-season momentum with a 38-8 victory over Peak Hill to hold down third place thanks to a superior for-and-against over Canowindra.

In the final game of the round, the out-of-the-running Cargo Blue Heelers proved far too good for a depleted Condobolin Rams in a 68-8 thrashing in a game where both sides were playing for pride.

Defending premiers Trundle Boomers had the bye.

In league tag, Cargo bounced back from a last-start loss with a strong 36-12 triumph over Condobolin, Grenfell knocked off Burrangong 34-0, Eugowra won 18-8 over Peak Hill and Manildra secured a 22-12 victory over Canowindra to ensure the cup’s top sides all had wins.

In youth league the firm favourites, the undefeated Manildra Rhinos are heading towards the major minor premiership double, although the Canowindra Tigers pushed the red and whites throughout a 20-10 result.

Trundle ran in an 18-12 victory over the improving Cargo Blue Heeler Pups, while Peak Hill had the bye.