The Forbes Magpies went in as the underdogs but stunned the Dubbo CYMS when they made history to win the grand final of the Peter McDonald Premiership 26 – 16 in Dubbo on Father’s Day. The town of Forbes literally turned black and white in support of the team and to top the victory Mitch Andrews was named player of the grand final. It was also a special victory for Cameron and Nick Greenhalgh who are not only coach and team captain, but also father and son.
The Forbes Platypi Under 12s won the Central West premiership for the third year in a row beating Mudgee 50 – 0.
Forbes Junior Rugby made its mark in the Central West this season with the Under 12s taking home the premierships trophy for the third year in a row, and the Under 16s narrowly missing out on claiming the grand final.
The Under 12s beat Mudgee 50 – 0 in Dubbo at the end of August to continue the dominance they showed all season.
Mac Glasson was chosen by CWJRU as best and fairest player of the grand final, and Jagger King was selected as player of the finals by the coaches/parents.
“It’s fantastic,” said club president Craig Bruem. “They were head and shoulders above the rest for the whole competition, but that did not distract them and they kept up their level of performance. It is pretty amazing that they’d won it for the third time and it is so good for the club.”
Craig said there was a lot of talent among the players and the coaches. It was a great result for the time and effort put in by Dave Hodder, Randall Grayson, Troy Howe and Jim Cronin.
The Under 16s played the formidable Orange Emus in the grand final with the Emus taking the trophy 24 – 12.
A special mention of the Platypi no. 8 Geordie Duncan, who was chosen by CWJRU as best and fairest player of the grand final, despite not being on the winning team.
“It was the first grand final for many of the Platypi players and they really stuck it to the Emus and fought hard to the end,” said Craig.
“For a little town like Forbes to be playing against the bigger clubs really made a statement this season.”
Greg Moxey, Pete Francis, Steve Jarick and Tony Frazer lead the boys to the pointy end of the season.
Lachie Orr, Boyd Hutchins, Anna Orr and Savannah Latu at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre. (Absent: Harry Yelland who could not make the finals due to hockey commitments.)
More than 150 teams started the competition and the Parkes Public School tennis team ended up in the top four and playing the finals in Sydney winning the silver medal. Anna Orr, Savannah Latu, Boyd Hutch-ins and Lachlan Orr played brilliantly at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre for the first time. They beat Hay Public School in the NSW Primary School Sports Association semi-final in a thriller. Parkes Public played Artarmon Public School in the final. They were a polished and experienced team and won the 2022 Victor Kelly Trophy. The Parkes team had travelled about 2,000km for their round matches before reaching Sydney.
The under 12 and under 14 Orange/Forbes Swamp Tigers won their grand final matches on Sunday in Bathurst. This is the under 14 team with their medals and trophy.
The Orange/Forbes Swamp Tigers claimed the 2022 AFL Central West under 12 and 14 junior premierships in front of a big crowd at Bathurst on Sunday.
The two teams beat Dubbo Junior AFL and the Bathurst Giants respectively in two nail-biting matches.
The under 14’s won a thriller thanks to Cayden Metzeling. He kicked the match-winner from 30m out on an angle just seconds out from the final siren to beat the Bathurst Giants by five points.
Orange/Forbes and Bathurst took turns leading through the match. The fourth quarter was tightly contested and with just under a minute left in the game, the Swamp Tigers surged forward and put the ball into their attacking 50. While contesting for the ball Cayden Metzeling was taken high in a bump by a defending Giants player and was awarded a free kick. Metzeling had the game on his boot and he kicked the only goal of the last quarter to take the lead with seconds remaining. The final score was Orange/Forbes 6.7 (43) to Bathurst Giants 5.8 (38).
Orange/Forbes had just a little too much class for an incredibly gutsy Dubbo, winning the under 12s grand final by 14 points.
Dubbo had by far the better of the early exchanges, but neither team were able to score a goal in the first quarter with Dubbo leading by one point, while Orange/Forbes led by five points at half time.
Dubbo wrestled back control in the third term with one point lead 8 9. In the final term the Swamp Tigers were leading by 20 points, but Dubbo refused to die and scored a goal to close the gap to fourteen. Final score Orange/Forbes 4.5 (29), Dubbo 2.3 (15).
The FJAFL would like to congratulate its players on their success and thank everyone for their involvement.
By Alex Milsom
If you want your photo with Australia’s most famous trophy, make sure to be at the Forbes Town Hall on 19th September. (Photo: vrc.com.au)
An amazing opportunity awaits all horse racing enthusiasts in Forbes in just over two weeks’ time.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is celebrating its 20th year of touring Australia and the world and it is coming to Forbes on 19th September!
The visit to Forbes is even more special as the gold for this year’s Melbourne Cup comes from Evolution’s Cowal Mine about 100km from Forbes.
Since the tour’s inception in 2003, the three-handled Cup has travelled over 760,000 kilometres, visiting more than 560 destinations, engaging with tens of thousands of people and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local fundraising initiatives.
The Forbes community is invited to attend the event in full Melbourne Cup finery if you wish for an opportunity to not only see and touch the trophy, but also have your photo taken with the Melbourne Cup.
There will also be some local industry celebrities talking about their experiences in their racing lives, including female jockey Cat Newcombe and the famous race caller Col Hodges.
The Making of the Melbourne Cup video will be screened and all attendees will receive a food voucher to purchase a free lunch from local food vans located in Harold Street.
It sure promises to be a bit of fun on a Monday morning. All you need to do is let the organisers know that you will be there for catering purposes. RSVP to Jolene Jones at Jolene.Jones@forbes.nsw.gov.au by Monday, 13th September.
This is an opportunity to wear your fascinator twice this year!
Lachlan Alley plucks his ball from the hole after scoring a ‘hole-in-one.’
Junior Forbes golf member Lachlan Alley scored a hole-in-one during competition on the weekend.
There were 63 starters for the Individual Stableford for men on Saturday with Wade Ricthie the division 1 winner with 36 points. Runner-up was Shane Sallaway with 36 points.
Division 2 was won by Lachlan Alley with 36 points, helped along by his hole-in-one which earned him ‘5’ points alone. Runner-up was Matt Duff with 35 points.
The NTP’s went to: 9th – Kim Herbert; 18th – Graham Newport. The 3rd hole super pin went to Lachlan Alley with a shot ‘zero’ metres.
The Ball Sweep went to 30 points on count back, with many scores affected by the sandy greens.
Once again the numbers on Sunday were too few for a Stableford Medley comp, but at least the weather was good.
This weekend the men’s golf competition is the Monthly Medal. Sunday has a Stableford Medley, and the Inaugural ‘Naggers Cup’ at Condobolin.
Do not forget the ‘Roylances Ambrose Day’ on Saturday, 10th September. Get your nominations into the Pro Shop.
By Short Putt
The Parkes Boars celebrate after becoming New Holland Cup Premiers for the third year in a row after beating Mudgee 23-20 on Saturday. (Photo: Allan Ryan)
The mighty Parkes Boars have been named New Holland Cup Premiers for the third year in a row, after a nail-biting 23-20 win over Mudgee in the first grade rugby union grand final on Saturday.
The Boars had a rollercoaster season, finishing third on the ladder at the end of the regular season. The team worked hard to bring home the silverware, defeating CSU Bathurst and Dubbo Rhinos on the way to the grand final.
First grade coach Ben Ryan said the team expected the Mudgee Wombats to apply pressure early. “They came out very strong and got an early lead on us,” he said. “But our captain, Christopher ‘Taco’ Parker, and vice-captain, veteran Rory Nock, kept the boys focused and didn’t let the pressure become overwhelming. That allowed us to grind it out for the full 80 minutes and that’s exactly what it took to win.”
The game lead changed hands several times, with the Boars finding themselves four points down in the dying minutes. A textbook try by Sororpepeli ‘Sorro’ Soqe followed by a successful conversion from the golden boot of Luke Bevan were enough to secure the lead for Parkes with seconds until the buzzer.
“The last play was a Mudgee kick off and it was frantic, both teams knew they needed to get their hands on the ball at all costs,” said Ben. “Just about everyone who could get under the ball went for it, and fortunately we came away with it after a Mudgee knock on and that was the end of the game.
“I think a massive thank you has to go to all our families, friends and supporters who wished us luck and those who came over to back us on the day. Going into enemy territory and having a vocal group there supporting you makes a massive difference,” said Ben.
By Ben & Kimberley Ryan
What a beautiful day it was to play Aussie Croquet on Saturday, so good in fact that 30 players turned up and enjoyed the morning at the Forbes Club.
There were four players that had three wins: Geoff Coles, Kevin Rubie, Barry White and Lorraine Todd.
BIG WINNERS: 14—7 Bill Scott and Tony Thomson; 14—8 Elvy Quirk and Joan Littlejohn, Barry White and John Cole; 14—9 Sandy Hepburn and Elvy Quirk, Bill Scott and Geoff Coles
CLOSE GAMES: (some results) Ray Burridge 14 May Jones 13; Kevin Rubie and May Jones 14 Sandy Hepburn and John Cole 13; Merv Langfield and John Cole 14 Jill Rubie and Harley Stewart 13; Colleen Liebich and May Jones 14 Ray Burridge and Rex Toole 12; Harley Stewart and John Farah 14 Colleen Liebich and Neville Spry 12; Jill and Kevin Rubie 14 Doreen Rogers and John Job 12
Another beautiful day for Golf Croquet on Tuesday with a good number of 36 players again. This was the last day of winter play, so here’s hoping we’ll get some warmer days.
BIG WINNERS: 11—2 Neville Spry and Neil Gilmour, May Jones and Ray Burridge, Colleen Liebich and Mal Smith; 10—3 Bruce Field and Noel Jolliffe.
CLOSE GAMES: (some results) Lyal Studwick and Carolyn Neilsen 7 Lorraine Todd and John Browne 6; Neville Spry 7 Kevin Rubie 6; John Farah and Sally Perry 7 Noel Jolliffe and Sandy Hepburn 6; Bruce Field and Ray Burridge 7 John Cole and Vince Roberts 6; Fay Picker and Tony Thomson 7 Iren Ford and Neil Gilmour 6; Neville Spry and Mal Smith and 7 Rex Toole and Bruce Field 6
By Pegging Out
The winning team are at the back (L-R) Team Manager Kathryn Sweeny, Darwin Nicholls, Billy Smith, Oscar Cronin, Charlie Howe, Mitchell Stocks and Coach Tony Wallace. In front are Lennox Hurford, Beau Wheeldon, Liam McCloud, Jaggar King, Archie Keane, Matthew Wallace and Hugh Hope-Hodgetts.
The prestigious Chris Gangemi Cup came home to Forbes for the very first time after St Laurence’s won the 2022 NSWCPS 10 a side rugby finals in Sydney last week.
The Forbes team went undefeated all day at the Catholic Schools NSW competition held at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill.
St Laurence’s was one of eight teams and represented the Wilcannia-Forbes Diocese. They played five games on the day beating Kempsey (31-14), Terrigal (25-0) and Inverell (31-5) in the pool games. In the semi-final they beat Lewisham 24-10 and played Kempsey again in the final, which they won 10-5.
The victory was very special for the Year5 and 6 boys and they were extremely proud to bring the prestigious shield back to Forbes. “They were elated,” said their team manager Catherine Sweeney.
“They played well all day and showed great sportsmanship. Their coach for the day Tony Wallace was full of praise for their team playing.”
Katherine said it was a wonderful day for all the parents, teachers and spectators witnessing some great rugby.
Upon their return the whole school rejoiced in their win that made everyone incredibly proud.
Darwin Nicholls runs with the ball in the first pool game against Kempsey at the 2022 NSWCPS 10 a side rugby finals in Sydney.
The Orange/Forbes under 12s team will play in the AFL Central West Junior Grand Finals in Bathurst on Sunday against the Dubbo Demons.
The Orange/Forbes under 12s and 14s will take on the Dubbo Demons and Bathurst Giants respectively in the 2022 AFL Central West Junior Grand Finals in Bathurst on Sunday.
For the fourth straight game in 2022, the Orange/Forbes 12s and 14s stormed past the Bathurst Bushrangers in the second half to take big wins and lock in the grand final spots.
In the under 12s the Swamp Tigers were comfortable victors – winning 16.8 (104) to 5.3 (33).
The Swamp Tigers got off to a strong opening and was leading by 39 at the first break, and by 31 points at half time. Orange/Forbes then shattered the Bathurst resistance in the second half piling on 58 points while conceding only 18 late in the fourth quarter to take the win, the minor premiership and claim the first spot in the grand final.
The under 12s opponent next week will be the Dubbo Demons after they upset the second placed Bathurst Giants 6.7 (43) to 3.2 (20) last weekend.
Orange/Forbes also claimed the minor premiership and the first spot in the grand final for the under 14s division when they claimed victory over Bathurst Bushrangers.
The Swamp Tigers’ four goals in the opening quarter gave them a 20-point lead at quarter time, and extend their lead to 29 at half time.
Bathurst had a 35-point deficit at three-quarter time, and with no score in the last quarter the Swamp Tigers took the win 7.7 (490 to 2.1 (13).
The victory secured Orange/Forbes the minor premiership and a spot in this week’s grand final playing the Bathurst Giants. The under 14s Grand Final has the potential to be the game of the day, as barely anything has separated these two teams all year.
By Alex Milsom