THE Orange Tigers have ensured they have plenty of momentum going into the Central West AFL semi-finals after notching a commanding 92-point win over Parkes.

The Tigers were keen to secure a win in the final round before the semi-finals and they didn’t disappoint in a comprehensive 19.17 (131) to 5.7 (37) victory at North Parkes Oval.

Tigers coach Craig Donaldson was impressed with the way his players adapted to the conditions to secure the win.

“It was one-sided but the score doesn’t reflect how well Parkes played. They really put pressure on us right across the paddock,” Donaldson said.

“There was a strong breeze and we were struggling with the conditions. We got into a rhythm in the second quarter. We played well in the third quarter and then we came home with a wet sail in the last.”

The Tigers were without Travis Bertam (work) and Greg Coates (injury) for the match and they also lost Danny Grellet (hamstring) early in the game, as well as Michael Bice (hamstring).

This forced some of the side’s younger players to take on more senior roles and they didn’t disappoint.

“John Cooper was outstanding rucking all day,” Donaldson said.

“Dan Sadler was dynamite. He played centre-half-back and had a lot of ball in the first quarter. He kept us in the game. He and Matt Norris were very good in the first quarter and Dan continued it for four quarters of solid, mobile football. He definitely didn’t hurt his chances of getting in the finals team.

“Sam Powell, Mitch McKenna and Simon Kay all impressed and stepped up after Danny Grellet pulled his hamstring.”

The Tigers finished the game with no one on the bench but Donaldson was pleased his side was able to keep the score ticking over.

Nic Freedman, Kay and Nathan Pearce did the majority of the scoring, bagging 10 majors between them.

The win leaves Orange in second on the competition points table and they will take on arch-rivals Cowra in this week’s highly-anticipated major semi-final at Mulyan Oval.

Donaldson said the game against Parkes gave his side good confidence leading in the semi-finals.

The Tigers are expected to be without Grellet for the major semi-final.

In the other CWAFL matches Cowra smashed Young by 215 points and Bathurst Bushrangers scored a psychological edge ahead of this week’s elimination semi-final against Dubbo, just edging the Demons 16.8 (104) to 14.14 (98) at George Park.