THE BULLIES… Back: Callen Naden (Orange), Jacob Parslow (Forbes), Michael Murphy, Jackson Hay (Parkes), Shayna Male (Parkes), Tipene Reweti (NZ), Hayden Bolam (Forbes). Front: Beau Tanswell (Parkes), Michelle Somers (Parkes), Kate French (Forbes), Hannah Kelly (Parkes), Codie Wakefield (Parkes), Erin Naden (Orange).
THE FROGGIES… Back: Aaron Mawhinney (Grenfell), Tyson Medlyn Reweti (Forbes), Brandon Martin, Jed Herbert (Forbes), Jared Colling, Cooper Neilsen (Parkes), Kaokao Kairimu (NZ). Front: Carly Morrison (Forbes), Kate Gullifer, Nicole Morrison (Forbes), Tamia Martin, Ally Hetherington (Parkes), Jorja Brown, Olivia Pringle.
The 14th annual Nick Way Memorial Touch Knockout was held in Portland on Saturday 4th and Sunday, 5th February. Ex-Forbes resident Jake Parslow and former Parkes resident Michelle Somers, who both have strong connections with St Pats Rugby League Club in Bathurst, organised two teams to compete in the knockout.
Both teams, the Bullies and the Froggies were strong contenders for the title and made the grand final in both A and B Pools. The Bullies were pipped at the post in the grand final, while the Froggies held off the strong competition to win their division.
A big weekend was had by the Bullfrogs with Erin Naden winning the women’s sprint, Tipene Rewiti winning the men’s sprint then Erin and Tipene teamed up with Nicole Morrison and Beau Tanswell to take out the relay.
Michelle Somers said this year was their second time attending the Portland carnival. The Bullies went down by just one point, 5-4 in their first division grand final, while the Froggies took out the second division grand final by 2 points, 6-4.
Michelle explained, “The teams are just a bit of a group, we put some mixed sides together and go and play touch carnivals. It is just a a social thing, but it is also good to play a bit of senior competitive touch.”
There will be a bit of a break for the teams now before they play again in October at the Country Championships. The teams are also looking to play in a carnival in Bundaberg next February.