The muddy surface made it impossible for players to run. It was freezing - the feels-like temperature dipped to as low as minus-9 - and that made the ball un-catchable.

Scrum, pass, drop, repeat. There wasn't much else in the 8-0 slugfest between Emus and Forbes, which was called about 15 minutes early to get players off the field.

It's going to take a long time for Endeavour Oval to recover from such a beating.

Emus are drawn to play the Bulldogs in Orange on Saturday, and even though the temperature will be a far-more balmy 15 degrees Celcius come kick-off this week, there's no doubt in the world as soon as it's stepped on Endeavour Oval will again be chopped up.

So, where to from Emus? Wade Park has to be an option, for at least the rest of the regular season. With no Group 10 senior games on at the moment, it's the logical choice.

Emus will likely win the minor premiership too, meaning at least one of the season's big games will be in Orange.

So, what happens come finals? Don't be surprised to see all games at Dubbo's Apex Oval, a facility that can ensure friends and families can watch the season's big games undercover, and the players will benefit from a pristine surface, which will allow from a better product to watch as well.

Because there's no way known you can charge people $10 at the gate to watch what we saw at Endeavour Oval last weekend.

Brian O'Reilly was the toast of Mudgee on Saturday after the lanky five-eighth calmly booted the match-winner against Parkes at Jubilee Oval.

Down 16-15 after the Boars snuck over for a converted try late in the piece, the home side worked the ball up field and jagged a penalty in injury time within range.

Up stepped O'Reilly, his dagger gifting the Batties an 18-16 victory and ensuring the Mudgee boys remain unbeaten at the top of the New Holland Agriculture Cup.

The Wombats make the trip to Cale Oval this weekend to face Narromine, what a clash that'll be.

Given the calibre of players in all three sides - Mudgee, Parkes and Narromine - rounds six and seven are giving us a very juicy prelude to what is shaping up as a cracker finals series.

Geurie's time at the top of the Oilsplus Cup was eventful, but ultimately short lived, and last week's 56-0 thrashing at the hands of the Molong Magpies marked the Goats' fourth loss in 2020.

They'll miss the finals, but the defending premiers were always going to battle after losing the likes of Filisione Pauta, who it must be said could have played in that competition in a dinner suit.

The top four of this competition race is set heading into this weekend's final round but, given the Magpies' form, the black and whites' clash with competition leaders Coolah at Molong will be one to watch.

It's been a few years since the Magpies last won a premiership.

Are we set to see the Molong Haka on grand final day in 2020?

Given the disasterous conditions the region was hit with last weekend, it wasn't a surprise to see Dubbo's trip to Bathurst cancelled.

The gesture to share the points rather than try and cram a mid-week clash into the schedule must be commended though, particularly on Bathurst's end. Losing a home game is tough for all, but the whack the club's financials would have taken as a result of missing out on bar sales, canteen and gate takings shouldn't be scoffed at.

The Bulldogs are building as they head into their first game of the second round, which will be in Orange this weekend against Emus. Can the Dogs jag their biggest scalp of the season to date?