The first local derby of 2016 will be staged tonight at Spooner Oval when the Forbes Magpies take on the Parkes Spacemen in one of their final hit-outs before the season-proper. Three grades will feature from 6pm, including the women’s league tag, under 18s, and a senior side made up of reserve grade and first grade players.
With the Spacemen being the closest rival to the Magpies the game should still be a tight affair despite it only being a trial match. The games will be played in 40-minute halves. For the senior players, it will be their second-last trial before next weekend’s match against Wellington in Wellington, before
their Group 11 round one bye.
Their first game will be against Dubbo Macquarie at Spooner Oval on April 23. Ahead of tonight’s trial, Magpies President Greg Grogan said his men were still carrying some minor injuries, but with some players sitting out, it would still be a good hit-out against Parkes. “We’ve got the first grade and reserve grade squads combining for the senior team, so it will be a good chance to see what sort of depth we have,” he said.
The Magpies made the semi-final at the Parkes Nines event two weeks ago, beating Wellington and Dubbo West Side before falling to Dubbo CYMS, and Grogan said this confidence would hold them in good stead moving forward. “Nines is completely different, but it was still a good showing of fitness from the players,” he said.
“From here it’s just a matter of avoiding more injuries. The best teams in the competition normally have the least injuries.” The Magpies will hold their season launch on Friday April 15 at the Sport and Recreation Club, and will combine their juniors and seniors at the launch for the first time.