Last Saturday, Dubbo Rhinos kicked off – straight into the arms of Soropepeli Soqe “Zorro” who ran the ball right back to the 15m, bowling the defence before him. With four players hanging off him he executed a neat pass onto the chest of Will Bevan. Bevan scored and added the extras.
Rhinos took a penalty goal to put their first points on the board. Parkes 7 – Dubbo 3. Boars mounted a push forward, spinning the ball out to Callum Reed who schored. Parkes 12 – Dubbo 3. Dubbo put the ball over the try line and convert Pares 12 – Dubbo 10.
Luke Bevan was next to score after the Boars scrum monstered the Rhinos pack. Parkes 17 – Dubbo 10. Mahe Fangupo crossed and Luke Bevan converted taking the score to Parkes 24 – Dubbo 10. Then with minutes to go in the first half, Zorro had the ball again – this time he holds it and crosses. Luke Bevan converts and at half time the score is Parkes 31 – Dubbo 10.
The Boars returned to the field, Luke Bevan added a penalty goal in the first five minutes. The rhinos rally to find the line Parkes 34 – Dubbo 15. A handling error from Parkes let Dubbo through again Pares 34 – Dubbo 20.
Tupou Vereti “Freddy” intercepted to score for the Boars. Luke Bevan added the extras. The score Parkes 41 – Dubbo 20 at the halfway mark.
The Rhinos put another two tries on with one conversion to bring their score to 32. Not to be outdone, Boars scored twice more with Luke Bevan, Bevan then converting his own Pares 48 – Dubbo 32. A penalty goal from the sideline added another three to the Parkes tally Parkes 51 – Dubbo 32 then to finish out the game the flying flanker Chris Parker finds the line out wide. The final score on the whistle, Boars 56 – Rhinos 32.
The Boars now make their way to Mudgee for their fourth finals match in as many years.