It was a tough Saturday at home for the Forbes Platypi Rugby Union club with losses in three men’s grades and only a 12-12 draw with the Orange Emu’s Women’s side the only result to crow about.

Forbes Colts continued their disjointed season marred by a pandemic and a lack of continuity with a disappointing 50-0 loss to the junior Emus. The Colts were never in the hunt and the result continues a slew of blow outs for the young side.

Seconds were marginally better but were fleeced to the tune of 36-7 by a dynamic Emu’s side that bullied the Platypi from the opening whistle and put pay to any chance they may have of finals football. Firsts couldn’t repeat their previous heroics going down 38-19 and slipping down to fourth on the Central West Blowes Menswear ladder behind Bathurst. They now sit on six wins, six losses and +6 points difference.

In the Women’s it was a tit-for-tat end-to-end battle with neither side being able to gain any real ascendency and the points shared in a thrilling 12-all draw and what must surely be a precursor to the finals later in the season.

Forbes won’t play again until they face Orange City in Forbes on July 24 in a must-win for all grades if they are to play semi-final football. A loss for Firsts and Dubbo may be clipping at their heals for fourth spot. A win, and a home semi-final beckons against Bathurst, potentially.

Orange Emus remain in first place on 47 points after the weekend’s win over Forbes while Cowra (43) and Bathurst (36) are second and third respectively as we approach the nitty gritty end of the season in the Central West Blowes Menswear competition.

It may not have been pretty, but Forbes Platypi kept in touch with the front runners in the Blowes Menswear Central West Rugby Union Competition at Dubbo on the weekend 12-6.

With everything to play for, both teams left it all out on the field in a tight war of attrition that could’ve gone either way.

The Platypi stuck solid and held on by the tightest of margins to remain in the top four and in the hunt for the minor premiership.

In other grades, 2nds were beaten 31-18 to continue a season of near misses while the Women’s were thumped 29-0 in a pasting. The Colts continue to struggle with a 41-5 rout confining the Colts to rear of the ladder and only pride left to play for in 2021.

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They say it’s hard to climb the mountain once but it’s even harder doing it twice and that’s exactly what the Central West Blue Bullettes have done with a resounding 35-15 win over Hunter at Tamworth in the Thompson Cup last weekend. The win backs up the crown NSW Country Rugby Championship trophy the side took home in 2019.

Unlike 2019, the Bullettes did it the hard way. Difficult conditions married with a sea-son impacted by COVID meant that combinations were a little awry early.

But it didn’t take long for the title fancies to find their rhythm.

Forbes duo Amy Townsend and Paulini Lawanikula figured prominently for the Bullettes with the latter playing a hand in the semi-final win over fellow contenders Central Coast 27-5. The tournament continues what has been a strong season for Lawanikula who’s husband Rusi along with Miniti Tonga, Tom Macleay, Mahe Fangupo and Charlie French all lined up from the Forbes Platypi club for Blue Bulls who also had success at the carnival.

Despite the short campaign, the Bullettes stuck to the task and everyone clicked when it mattered.

Bathurst Bulldogs player and captain Mel Waterford was elated with how the unit came together with little notice and the spectre of COVID hanging over the tournament.

“All the players from 1 to 25 played their part and put together excellent performances,” she said.

“Hunter kept us on our toes and sharp all game,” Mel said.

After an excitable start at a frenetic pace, it was Central West who settled first against Hunter, playing the majority of the match in their half and not allowing them into the game. Dominant forward running and some sublime skills from the outside backs eventually proved too much for the Hunter side as Central West ran out 20 point winners in front of a decent Peel Valley crowd.

Forbes Platypi suffered a shock defeat to 2021’s big improvers Cowra Eagles in Cowra on the weekend 36-10 in front of a boisterous home crowd.

The loss has left the Platypi just holding onto second spot on 18 points behind high-flyers Orange Emu’s (24 points) but in a gridlock with Cowra (16 points), Bathurst (15 points) and Dubbo on 14 points heading into their top of the table clash at home this Saturday May 29 in round seven of the Blowes Menswear Cup. Even sixth placed Orange City on 11 points are four points and one good game out of finals contention.

Seconds went down 27-16 in a dogged match against the Eagles as well and will be looking to turn their fortunes around this weekend as well after a mixed run of results. The Women’s side had the bye while the Colts drew 17-all with Dubbo in arguably one the best games of the year.

Forbes play Orange Emu’s this weekend and will be looking to reverse the round two loss in Orange when the ladder leaders triumphed 38-26 at home in a quality game. A win for the Platypi and a double on Orange City the following week will hold the side in good stead as they enter a run of crucial games against other finals contenders Bathurst and Dubbo.