Rugby Union

Sports Oval Gets Spiced Up

October 1, 2021 By editor

SPECIAL DAY… At the commencement of construction of the redevelopment of Spicer Oval on Tuesday were (L-R) Cr Neil Westcott, Deputy Mayor Barbara Newton, Ben Howard (Parkes Shire Council), Phil Donato MP, Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith, Glen Tilston (Hines Construction), Allan Ryan (Parkes Boars), Scott Knights (President Parkes Senior Cricket), Duncan Blair (Project Manager Parkes Shire Council) and Kevin Oliver (President Parkes Boars).

By the end of June next year the Parkes Boars Rugby Union Football Club will have its own $1.6 million facility at the Spicer Oval.

“I can’t express how much this means to our club,” said Allan Ryan of the Boars at the commencement of construction this week. “There is nothing like having your own club house. We are very, very grateful. This is going to be a game changer for our club and give us pride and identity.”

The redevelopment of Spicer Oval will include a modern amenities block, a club-house and canteen with additional function capabilities, plus a viewing platform accommodating 300 people to service year-round participation of a range of different sports. The building contract was awarded to Hines Construction.

While it will provide the Parkes Boars with a dedicated facility and accommodate junior, senior and women’s rugby matches, the oval will also be used for cricket matches of all grades and ages.

Phil Donato MP said it was a very special day for the Parkes Community and a significant project for the Boars, who had won the premiership two years in a row. “It will be good for the Boars to have their own facility and a venue to match other clubs’ facilities in the region.”

Parkes Mayor Ken Keith said it was a great move forward for the oval that was known as the People’s Park originally where the great Donald Bradman had played many years ago. “It has been the home of so much sport in our community and it still is.

He said the next phase would be to level the playing field to include two rugby fields and the cricket pitch.

Stage 1 of the redevelopment of Spicer Oval included the upgrade of the LED lighting in line with the lighting code for night time football and cricket.

By Maggi Barnard

Sports Shorts

May 28, 2021 By editor

Rhona Went and Liz Byrne won the Open Pairs to become the Zone Pairs Champions at Regional Bowls Play-Offs hosted by the Parkes Bowling and Sports Club last week. They qualified to play at state finals later in the year. Congratulations!

Parkes won both the men’s and women’s top divisions at last weekend’s Dave Fuller Intertown Teams Squash event in Parkes. Nathan Fuller (left) handed over the prizes to the Parkes players (L-R) Jennifer Condie, Darryn Piper, Geoff Leonard, Jay Kross, Lockie Miller, Shanna Nock and Beck Connell.

A total of $21,881 were handed to five clubs under the latest round of the Sports Grants Funding Program. The clubs are Parkes & District Kennel Club, Parkes Boars Rugby Club, Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association, Peak Hill Pony Club and the Parkes Tennis Club. At the presentation were (back L – R) Brendon Hunt, Cr Louise O’Leary, Denise Gersbach, Kevin Oliver, Anthony Stewart and Angela Bottaro-Porter. In front Sharon and Sienna Hunt, Northparkes MD Hubert Lehman, Michelle Wetherell and Parkes Shire Mayor Cr Ken Keith.

Parkes Boars Draw Home Game

July 25, 2019 By editor

The Parkes Boars played the Blayney Rams at home last Saturday. The score ended in a 5-5 draw with Ben Ryan scoring the try for Parkes. Benjamin Rathbone chalked up his 150th game for the Boars!

Winning Determination

July 11, 2019 By editor

The first minutes of the match between the Parkes Boars and the Dubbo Rhinos last Friday were intense, as both sides were desperate to get the first points on the board. Rhinos struck first with a penalty goal, with Parkes soon striking back replying off the boot of Sam Davis. Scott Chislett, Jarrod Westcott and Jason Lowe took their turn to punch into the Rhinos defence.

Withstanding the pressure in the first 20 minutes, Parkes worked their way down the field and Rusiate Lawanikula put their first points on the board. Sam Davis converted from out wide and as usual Toby Baigent threw himself into the game hammering the opposition in attack and defence. By halftime Parkes had their nose in front 10-8 Early in the second half, Josh van der Stock’s repeated attacks broke through and made a 90 metre run to put Parkes on
the attack. The Forwards stepped up and a series of pick and drives by Jason Lowe and Michael Thomas built pressure with Dan Ryan capitalising for the Boars and Sam Davis again adding the extras.

The Boars had their chances to add to the score but fumbled on the line twice. Parkes thought they’d done enough, but Rhinos struck back desperate for a win and scored to take them within four points.

Parkes hung on to repel Rhinos for the last ten minutes to take out the much-needed win.

Best for Parkes – Toby Bagent, Rusi Lawanikula, Jarrod Westcott and Michael Thomas.

Rockin’ Rugby For the King

January 9, 2019 By editor

A rugby match played in Elvis jumpsuits is but one of the peculiarities of the Parkes Elvis Festival. But if you are a rugby union fan, this is one match you should not fail to attend! The fifth all-Elvis game will be played on Friday at 6pm at the Pioneer Oval in Alexandra Street with the Blue team versing the Red team. Final teams will be coordinated on the day depending on numbers. The match will be played in quarters to take full advantage of drink breaks with the heat.

Just turn up on the day and be part of a match you will talk about for years to come! Don a wig and white jumpsuit and make yourself known to the organisers to be part of the Elvis craziness.

Boars Bring Back Bounty

June 21, 2018 By editor

Last Saturday was a day of much celebration for the Parkes Boars as they hosted their annual Ladies Day and came away with two good results.

Second Grade: Parkes Boars 5 – 5 CSU Bathurst: The Parkes Boars 2nd Grade finally gave the performance Ethen Keseff has been wanting and demanding as they faced a strong second grade team in CSU. Low scoring but not lacking in ambition and performance levels, a few errors and steel defensive lines kept it low. Jake Elliot shimmied and crashed over the line to level the scores.

First Grade: Parkes Boars 29 – 17 CSU Bathurst: The first half was predominantly in CSU’s hands with the majority of field position dictated by the boot. The Boars, with a clear game plan, were able to limit the majority of backline play. Dylan Phillipa took the first try, but CSU was 10-5 up. The Boars quickly asserted control in the second half. The forward pack tore the scrum to pieces. The Parkes backs had never had it so easy. Ben Ryan (brother of Parkes rugby idol Dan Ryan) was able to touch down for the first of his plethora of tries. That was the story for the rest of the game. Parkes Boars’ back decimated the CSU pack in all departments allowing Lloyd Rodgers to link up with fellow Englishman Ben Powlay. The dream duo constantly threatened the defensive line with Lloyd scoring.

Ben Ryan found himself lost on the wing, but put the icing on the cake of his man of the match performance to score his third try and become the top try scorer for the season.

By Ben Powla

Mudgee Wombats vs Parkes Boars

June 7, 2018 By editor

A rallied Wombat side proved too strong for a weakened Parkes Boars side last weekend.

Second Grade: Mudgee 28 – 12 Parkes This game featured a few club debuts, and with Mudgee Seconds near the top of the table, they were pushed consistently across the 80 minutes. This game captured the crowd with both teams taking the ball up the pitch and displaying hearty defensive performances.

First Grade: Mudgee 41 – 27 Parkes Parkes Boars were up for 90% of the game, but travelling away to Mudgee is always a tough feat. With several key players absent and others sporting injuries it was an uphill battle from the off. The score was always in the Boars favour, yet a combination of some seriously poor officiating decisions which were rudely and poorly explained (my opinion), combined with a gritty Mudgee forwards display and dented morale meant the Wombats could never be truly shaken or put to bed. Through these factors and a large home crowd smelling blood the comeback felt inevitable and crossing the line in the last few minutes sealed the boars fate. Defeated but not disheartened the Boars enjoyed winning the boat race. The Parkes Boars have a weekend off and return on 16th June at home to play CSU Bathurst.

By Ben Powley

Hood’s Masterclass Not Enough To Stop Rhinos

May 24, 2018 By editor

The Boars played away from home for the third week in a row taking on the Dubbo Rhinos. The 2nd grade side was first out with Timmy Lawler and Ben Rathbone adding much needed experience to the youthful side, but the Rhinos managed to win the match 29-5. In the 1st grade game the Rhinos were first to score, while the Boars lost their no. 8 Jarrod Westcott after tripping over his shoelaces and dislocating his knee.

The pace and flare of the Rhinos backline was on show and they went over the line again to make it 14 – 0. In one of the most majestic pieces of play on a rugby field Dylan Hood found himself in a position of isolation on the right hand flank. His feet went in, then away, then in, then away again. This wrong footed the three Rhino defenders and gave him room to race around the defenders and glide over the line.

The Rhinos hit back immediately before the break to make it 19 – 5. James Sellings kicked to his brother, Jonah Ruzgas produced the tackle of the season and jolt the ball free. It rolled over the try line and Dylan Hood dived on the ball for the fastest try.

Dyllan Phillips was next to a much needed try for the Boars to take it to 19-15. With only minutes on the clock Rhinos
got a turnover and snuck down the far touch line to score in the corner and signal an end to the game: 24-15.

By Rory Nock

Boars Cram Blayney Rams

May 17, 2018 By editor

The Boars proved too much for the Rams on a fresh and bitter Saturday in the deep depths of Blayney. In the feature game of the day the Boars came away the winners 31 – 24.

The rams were first to strike and landed an early try. The Boars showed dominant midfield play from Rodgers, Powlay, and Marika Koroivui, and marched forward giving space for Dylan Phipps to dash down the line. He passed to Jim Sellings to score. Rodgers’ conversion made it 7-7 Blayney crossed over the line a second time, and then generously gave the ball straight back for the Boars to mount an attack.

Toby Baigett took flight gaining 35 metres. Llyod Rodgers moved up and across the pitch before combining exquisitely with Jared Westcott who gave a short pass to Ben Powlay to break through three tackles to swan over under the posts.

The first half kept following this format. Blayney scored again, and after a chip through from Llyod Rodgers, Dylan Phipps outpaced everyone and dove on the ball to make it 21-19.

In the second half a bamboozling run from Marika took him over the line, and Rodgers converted 4 from 4. Blayney replied with a try, but with two missed conversions they were level 4 points down. Campbell Legman took the ball charging, and Josh Corney lead the pack down the field winning a penalty for the Boars.

They opted for the posts and put the game to rest. Particular mention goes to Johan Ruzgas on his first team debut, with a solid and energetic performance.

By Ben Powlay

Boars Beat Bathurst

May 10, 2018 By editor

Parkes Boars came away the happier of the two teams following two tough and physical games at University Oval, Bathurst last week.

2nd grade: CSU 17 Parkes Boars 15 A couple of absentees led to interesting playing combinations, particularly centres Rusi Lawanikula and captain Ethan Koseffe. They impressed through hard dog defence and powerful running and Rusi scored a well earnt try early on.

Going into half 5-5, the Boars came out with new energy and vigour. Debutant Hugh Woods put the Boars on the front foot and superb phases of play was rewarded with Karl Oliver crossing over under the posts to make the score 10-5.

CSU scored the equalising try, while Boars’ promising youngster Johan Ruzgas crossed over for his first try of the season, but CSU crossed over at the end, and converted to win 17-15.

1st Grade CSU 25 Parkes 29 With Dan Ryan out for the Boars, Coach Myles opted for the smallest pack to ever take to the field. The size difference upfront seemed to make no difference with Brock Mattocks and Jimmy Lowe making big tackles and burrowing runs. CSU started the scoring with a drop goal. Parkes’ Dylan Hood scored the first try.

CSU answered almost instantaneously, but Parkes refused to let them get away with well taken chances by Jim Sellings and Poncho Nash.

With a forward driving try for Campbell Earsmen, Boars were four points up. A well stolen ball from Ben Ryan and a scrummaging masterclass by Jim Lowe earned the boars a spectacular and well-deserved win.