Moran's sister passed away in the days leading up to Saturday's qualifying semi-final and the former NRL player was visibly emotional during a minute's silence involving not only the Cowboys and Nyngan first grade sides, but also the Wellington and Forbes junior teams.

Moran then showed all his craft and guile in the gutsy 34-24 over the Tigers victory at Kennard Park.

He scored a crucial first-half try, landed a brilliant 40/20 in the second stanza, and found touch with a number of other kicks at the right time in what was the latest in a catalogue of professional showings from an all-time Group 11 great.

Moran wasn't the only standout, as the Cowboys had to dig deep and come back from being down 10-0 inside the first five minutes and then 20-16 behind early in the second half to book a date with minor premiers CYMS in next weekend's major semi-final.

"It's been a really tough week for Dennis ... but for him to turn up today and put in the performance he did, it just shows his character," Cowboys coach Toomey-White said.

"It was a special moment to have that minute's silence and it showed Dennis our whole town and community and club is supporting him and his family 100 percent.

"He's all class, Dennis, and in those little moments in the game where we need someone to stand up it's him putting his hand up."

Playing at home, Wellington had three sides featuring on the first day of Group 11 finals and the Cowboys fans were out in force.

But they were silenced inside five minutes of the main game as Nyngan's scintillating attack stole the show.

First player-coach Justin Carney powered across in trademark fashion, before a perfect cross-field kick from Jai Merritt was pounced on by winger Ash Widders.

But late in the half Widders was sin-binned for a late swinging arm, and that proved to be one of the game's major moments.

The Cowboys scored right on half-time to level things up at 16-all and despite the Tigers scoring first in the second half, the hosts crossed hit back while Widders was off the park to take the lead for the first time.

Moran's 40/20 led to another Cowboys try soon after, and from then on it was virtually one-way traffic.

"To get ourselves back into the match and then score those few tries, it was a really good effort from the boys," Toomey-White said,

"The fight of the boys, we had our backs to the wall in some aspects of the game but when we went back to basics and played our own footy we scored those good tries."

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It marked the second time this season the Cowboys had beaten the Tigers at Kennard Park, and while the Nyngan side came into the match in red-hot form player-coach Carney said Wellington was the better side.

Referee Willy Barnes drew the ire of both sets of fans in a heavily penalised second half but Carney remained circumspect post-game.

"We're pretty matched on all parts of the field and the bench as well and we'll be looking forward to next week for sure because we were in good stead to win that game," Carney said.

"There was a few silly things and you can say what you want about the decisions but that's footy and they (officials) have got a job to do.

"At the end of the day we turned up and got beat, plain and simple."

The unity and fighting spirit within the Cowboys side may have been the biggest factor on Saturday, but the sheer amount of individual talent in the lineup also shone.

Will Lousick was dangerous throughout after scoring his side's first try following Nyngan's fast start, while Josh Griffiths also showed some lovely hands at halfback as he put Wade Peachey over for a second half try before going himself and scoring soon after.

Mason Williams delivered one of the day's many highlights, going on a jinking run on the fifth tackle to score a fine individual tries while the four-pointers scored by Nyngan's Josh Merritt and Clynton Edwards, both when kicking for themselves, would be long-spoken about in any other game with any other result.

"We've got amazing talent in our team," Toomey-White said.

"It's all 17 blokes, they put in every week and when our bench is going on they know they need to lift for our boys and keep them going.

"We'll enjoy this win tonight but on Monday we go back to the drawing board for another massive game.

"CYMS will be raring to go after three weeks off but we're 80 minutes from a grand final."

Nyngan next weekend meets the winner of Sunday's elimination semi-final between Parkes and Forbes.