Get ready for a big weekend of celebrations and football with the Parkes Boars 50th anniversary. The Club reformed in 1967 and has become an important part of the Parkes community. Both the old boys and the new, along with supporters and guests, will come together to reminisce about the good days and memories that were made over the past 50 years in the Club.

There will be a special Gala Dinner at the Parkes Services Club, kicking off at 6.30- 7pm. Tickets are $50 and are available at https://www.parkesboars.com

Guest speakers on the night will be current Wallaby’s player Tom Robertson. Tom was born in Wellington and spent his early years playing rugby union in Dubbo. Another guest speaker is ex-Wallaby Jon White. Jon made 24 test appearances and is regarded as one of Australia’s finest rugby players in the 20th century. He debuted in 1958 against New Zealand and also played a significant role in the rival of Australian Rugby in the 1960’s. In his early days he played rugby in Cumnock and he will certainly give a great insight into the game. The Gala Dinner is expected to be a great night, so lets raise a glass to 50 years!

Be sure to come along to watch the Boars play this Saturday against the Cowra Eagles at a home game.

By Taneil Thornberry

Despite having several key players out for the match, the Boars dug deep to beat CSU 33-22 in Bathurst last weekend.

First points of the match came from a full team effort to get the ball to the winger Dyl- lan Phillips, who ran 35m down the wing to send a long offload to Joe Nash. Nash crossed under the posts. Ben Powlay added the extras. CSU responded with a try on the wing. The conversion missed.

The game settled into the forwards with Israel Symington, Leo Havili, Rory Nock and Ben Ryan leading the charge. A strong driving maul put the ball within 15m of the line. Full back Josh Miles crossed under the posts, Powlay added the extras.

Dyllan Phillips again found the ball in hand and crossed on the far wing after running through the CSU pack. Conversion was missed.

At the half time Parkes had a handy 19-7 lead.

In the second half thundering lock Tohi Tangi Nusipepa barged across under the posts dragging the defence with him. Powlay added the extras.

CSU were not done yet and in a blinding resurgence of skill they added two tries in six minutes. They were unable to find the posts to add the extras.

Flying wing Marika Korivoui put on the move of the match when he collected a deep kick on the 15m line, then pounded back through the full team to be brought down 10m from the line. This move rallied the stunned Boars. Joe Nash again found the line wide of the posts. Powlay added the extras.

Despite their determination CSU were unable to add any further points. Parkes took the match 33-22.

Best and fairest points: 3 points Cody Bruce, 2 points Ben Ryan and Leo Havili, 1 point Josh Cornellison. Players player was voted to Rory Nock.

This weekend the Boars are at home against the Bathurst Bulldogs.

The Parkes Boars had to face the hard running Dubbo Kangaroos without key first grade players on Saturday, which favoured the opposition to win the match 26-22.

The Boars opened the scoring when fly half Lloyd Rogers ducked, dived and ran through the Roos defence to plant the ball under the posts. Rogers converted his own.

Kangaroos kicked to restart – the crowd appreciated Israel Symington’s AFL style jump to take the ball. The match began to settle, but an infringement by Parkes gave Dubbo a scrum feed on the 5m and enough go forward to cross the line. The conversion was successful.

Dubbo crossed twice more during the half with Parkes restricted to taking a deep penalty kick. The half time score Boars 10 Kangaroos 19.

The second half was as physical as the first with the Boars lifting their game. Lock Toby Baigent took a screamer and returned the ball 25m through the Roos defence to be brought down under four defenders. His quick pass sent the ball safely into the hands of the inside centre Ben Powlay. Powlay crossed wide.

Parkes cross the line again through the kick, run and chase of newest team member hooker Bobby Waititi. Rogers added the extras and the Boars had the lead at 22-19.

With 5 minutes to go inside centre Billy Sing of the Roos found the line and crossed next to the posts. The extras were added and the Roos took the lead 26-22.

Referee Richard Madden described the match as hard and fast for so early in the season.

By Cath Ryan

The Parkes Boars faced the Mudgee Wombats in the season opener last Saturday with great success.

The Colts’ young team had not played much together, but managed a 24–3 win. Tries to prop Mitch Townsend, winger Ty- ler McMahon, Aaron Peters and Pat Jones. Matt Parkes added two conversions to consolidate the game – 3 points to Pat Jones, 2 points Brad Watt, 1 point Jock Wright. Players player was Pat Jones.

Third Grade had 24 willing players but faced a last-minute Mudgee forfeit with Parkes taking the points.

Second Grade, under young coach Dyl- lan Phillips, continued the winning streak with a 36–12 victory. Tries: Break away Mitch Hutchings, Rusciate Lawinakula, Matt Hunter, Tim Lawler, Dyllan Phillips and Toby Tanks. Conversions: Mitch Hutchings, Iszac Oliver and Toby Tanks – 3 points Matt Hunt- er, 2 points Nathan Baker, 1 point Chris Sell- ings. Players player to Prop Sam Dennison.

The First Grade Wombats kicked off deep into Boars defence and within two minutes crossed the line to take the lead. Parkes rallied and a minute later through the hands of Ash Adams and Joe Nash, John Rathbone crossed wide for his first. The Boars lead at half time 31-14.

The Boars continued to dominate with Mudgee well out of the game in the second half, but Parkes hadn’t finished yet. Break away Ben Powlay scored two tries and converted his own with Josh van de Stok finishing the game to bring the score to 95– 14. Tries: Lloyd Rogers (3), Ben Powlay (2), John Rathbone (2), Toby Baigent (2), Josh van de Stok (2), Sam Standen (2), Dyllan Phillips and Joe Nash. Conversions: Lloyd Rogers (8), Ben Powlay (2) – 3 points to Tohi Nusipepa, 2 points Lloyd Rogers, 1 point Leo Ilalio Havili. Players player Lloyd Rogers.

Next Saturday the Boars travel to Cowra to face the Eagles.

By Cath Ryan

Under 17’s Parkes Boars game against Forbes Platypi was a hard battle with Forbes leading 29-7 at half time. They continued their dominance, but the Parkes boys never gave up even though they only had 12 play- ers on the day.

The under 15’s Parkes Boars travelled to Narromine on Saturday to take on the Dub- bo Blues. The Parkes boys joined up with players from Narromine Gorillas for the first time. The boys had not trained together and the game started at a frenzied pace. Parkes played with great intensity, but Dubbo man- aged to put the first try on the board and ended up winning 36-0.

A very young Parkes U13 side travelled to Orange to take on the juggernaut Or- ange Emus with a notable size difference between the two sides. Although Emus opened the first half scoring, Jayden “Pow- erhouse” Pope scored first for the Boars. At half time the score was 12 all.

Emus took advantage of some weak de- fence and took the score to 24 to 22 with only a few minutes to go. Emus were hot on the attack again when Tyler Yeo saw a steal and a quick pass wide to Malakai Folau who scored in the corner. Parkes held on for the win 29 – 22.

By Allan Bailey