The Spacecats were led onto Jock Colley Oval by Trevor Harper for round 4, which sees the first ever group XI grand finalists for ladies league tag go head to head. Parkes was sitting in first place on the leader board, Westside in third.

Parkes started the game and with great pressure got possession of the ball with Louise McAneney over for Parkes’ first. Westside kicked to resume play but Parkes brought it back to halfway with strong runs from Emma Bayley who got over for number 2, extras added from Claire Barber. After a set of six each the Spacecats third was awarded to Sami Afele while Westside were still scoreless. After the Rabbits set of six Emma Bayley dodged players, Codie Wakefield ran hard and Captain Hannah Kelly scored number 4.

The ladies fifth try had Demi-Joyce Winters name to it as did the sixth. Demi got the ball back from the dummy half and was over! An awesome intercept by Hannah Kelly saw her second, Parkes’ seventh, on the board. Westside were still scoreless and the Spacecats made sure it stayed that way working hard in defence.

Parkes’ eighth try and Hannah Kelly’s third went over after quick moves with ten and a half minutes left until full time. Nat Gardiner made some great ground and Ella-J Harris chased the ball into goal and tagged a Westside player. With only minutes left on the clock Parkes were still hungry for another. Fantastic final score of Spacecats 42- Westside Rabbits 0.

Parkes are at home this weekend against Narromine and it’d be great to see local support for our girls who have only had 10 points scored against them so far this season!

Space News

The Spacecat ladies started the day against Macquarie strong, with Emma Bailey quickly scoring beside the posts followed by a kick from Claire Barber. The next set saw strong runs from Demi Winter, Codie Wakefield, Emma Bailey, Sam Cox and on the last Katie Caldwell kicked and chased to tag Macquarie in goal. Pressure from Parkes created an opening for Emma Bailey to get her second with another successful kick from Claire Barber.

Macquarie restarted with a kick to Elisha Naqua and a catch on the full followed by a great run by Sarah McAneney. Quick hands got the ball to Katie Caldwell who scored the Spacecats’ third and Claire Barbers third conversion. Again Macquarie started with a kick straight into Elisha Naqua’s hands, passed to Katie Caldwell who dashed 45m to score her fourth with a fourth kick from Claire. Codie Wakefield worked hard not to allow Macquarie any ground, tagging 5 girls in a row from marker position. Demi Winter scored another try for Parkes which took the half time score to Parkes 28 Macquarie 0.

The second half saw Emma Bailey score a quick try with Claire adding 2. Macquarie get the ball in the next set and are hungry for a try but excellent defence from Parkes deny them. An overzealous kick from Macquarie allows Emma Bailey to run and score her fourth try with an on form Claire adding the 2. Captain Hannah Kelly worked hard all game and scored out wide through a sleeping Macquarie defence. The final try of the game went to Demi Winter taking the final score to an impressive Parkes 56 Macquarie 0.

 

Under 18’s

Macquarie kicked to begin the game and Josh Amberge worked hard to make it out of goal. With a lot of ground made Jye Dillon kicked and scored in the opening minutes, James Goonrey with a kick right in front. Jay Slavin made a run in the next set but Macquarie began to make ground until a crash tackle from Jacob Smede. Jye Dillon goes over for his second after a few errors from Macquarie and effort from Billy Porter, Bailey Jones and Stephen Purcell.

A bad bounce from Macquarie sees Jacob Smede make a 30 metre run and Josh Amberge goes over for the spacemen’s 3^rd, resulting in a 16-0 lead for Parkes.

Great chase and a big hits from Bailey Jones, Wilbur Smith, Jye Dillon, Jay Slavin and James Goonrey. Josh Amberge took off down the sideline and managed to stay in with great footwork while Jia Hoe made a run and got hit hard. A penalty was awarded and Ethan Richards pumped his legs to get Zac Gordon within centimetres of the line.

On the last James Goonrey toed the ball to Macquarie and with an error Parkes got it back and out to Jay Slavin and over he went to give James Goonrey a kick in front, taking the half time score to Parkes 22 Macquarie 0.

Macquarie opened the second half with a try and successful conversion. Toby Clarke saved the day with a great tackle after Macquarie intercepted and Ethan Richards and Zac Gordon both make big runs but with no reward. The junior Spacemen begin to tire and Macquarie gain advantage, scoring their third try. On the kick Parkes find some energy and get within 10 metres but fail to get over the line. Ethan Richards gets a loose ball and uses his legs to gain an extra 10. Macquarie strip the ball to give away a penalty right in front and Parkes opt for a kick to end the game, making the final score Parkes 24 Macquarie 16.

Netball

A beautiful Saturday morning was the setting for the first round of junior netball. There is now an extra team in the Super 8’s division, the Butterfly’s will play their first game tomorrow. Just a reminder that NetSetGo will begin on 21^st may for all players aged under 7, if you have not yet registered pleased head down to the courts on Saturday and see Jenny Ryan. Remember that Parkes and District netball association will be holding their annual general meeting next Monday 16^th May at the Parkes Services Club at 7pm. Each team is to send a representative for one bonus competition point.

Round 2 brought the Nyngan Tigers to Parkes Pioneer Oval for ladies league tag. 18 girls sang Captain Hannah Kelly happy birthday before getting ready for a repeat of the 2015 semi-final, hoping the outcome would be the same. Nyngan kicked to start and nice passes from Ella J Harris, Hannah Kelly and Britt Ryan saw Demi Winter get close but no try.

The ball found its way across the field to Britt Dumesny who ran through Nyngan’s defence but didn’t manage to score. With no points on the board Katie Caldwell and Ella J Harris came on. Ella J Harris took the ball in goal and got it back to the 20 with great stepping and hard running. With great pressure and runs from Nat Gardiner, Nicole Mapperson, Louise McAneney and Codie Wakefield the ball went over for Parkes’ second. Nyngan managed to put some points on the board six minutes before half time.

Emma Bailey retaliated by tagging 3 tigers in a row from marker. Sarah McAneney had a busting run with an off load from Katie Caldwell to score under the posts and a kick by Ella J Harris added the 2. A short kick by Nyngan went out after a bounce that left Parkes with a lot of defending to do before half time, leading to a score of Parkes 14- Nyngan 6 at the half time whistle.

The second half saw Parkes running left to right in what they hoped would be a half empty of tries for Nyngan. Great chase and pressure from the Parkes girls saw Nyngan knock on and Parkes get the ball 20 out. Emma Bailey scored a try followed by a deep kick from Nyngan straight into the hands of Katie Caldwell who dived under the posts for her second. Claire Barber delivered a successful conversion and another great run, racking up another four points for Parkes. With controlled passes Demi Winter upped the pace and scored her first try, conversion by Ella J Harris. Again, Demi received the ball and was over again for her second. Parkes Spacecats were the victors of the day with an end score of Parkes 40- Nyngan 6.

The Parkes Spacemen executive along with the league tag team would like to thank their major Guernsey sponsor Parkes Services Club and Sleeve sponsors.
1. Simply Bellissima by Kim, 2. Cunninghams IGA Parkes, 3. Nicko’s Bricklaying, 4. Parkes GP, 5. Bunnamagoo Wines, 6. BMJC (The Moran boy’s), 7. La Bella, 8. Dippin Dots, 9. Parkes Mensland, 10. Thd studio, 11. Parkes Railway Bowling Club, 12. Parkes Services Club, 13. Nangar Gems.

This Sunday marks round 1 of the season with all grades travelling to Wellington. League tag girls will kick off at 11am, followed by 18s, reserve grade and first grade. Head to Wellington to support the Spacies in their first competition game in what’s looking to be a fantastic year for the teams! After the games the teams will be heading to the Leagues Club to celebrate the beginning of the season with pizzas, drinks and entertainment by DJ Jed Raunchle.

20th March saw the Leagues Club’s Spacies League Tag ladies have their first hit up against Group XI competitors. With 14 ladies named on the game sheet for the day they had fronted to play 2 games and with a withdrawal of one team ended up playing 3. The nerves were high on both benches in the first game against Forbes. Our ladies didn’t take long to open the scoring with Nangar Gem’s Claudia Lovett’s first try and her second following soon after.

Spacies third try went to La Bella’s Sally Dwyer. Forbes opened the second half with their only try and Dippin dots Emma Bailey answered with a try on the restart. Successful conversion by BMJC’s (The Moran Boy’s) Ella-J Harris took the final score to Parkes 18 Forbes 4.

In game 2 the Spacies filled the gap to face Wellington with nerves a thing of the past now they had found their feet. In a very fast paced game Claudia Lovett scored 2 tries, Sally Dwyer scored 2 tries, Parkes GP’s Hannah Kelly 1 try, Nicko’s Bricklaying Nat Gardner 1 try, Parkes Mensland’s Katie Caldwell 1 try and BMJC’s Ella-J Harris 6 successful conversions. Final score Parkes 40 Wellington 0. The last game of the day was against an unknown Cyms. Parkes played the last 3 minutes with only 10 players and defended well to leave the score Parkes 0 Cyms 0.

The Parkes Spacemen executive along with the league tag team would like to thank their major Guernsey sponsor,
Parkes Services Club and Sleeve sponsors Simply Bellissima by Kim, Cunninghams IGA Parkes, Nicko’s Bricklaying, Parkes GP, Bunnamagoo Wines, BMJC (The Moran boy’s),La Bella, Dippin Dots, Parkes Mensland, Thd studio, Parkes Railway Bowling Club, Parkes Leagues Club and Nangar Gems.