The Parkes Spacemen travelled to Nyngan last Sunday and came home with a 3 grade win. We caught up with Paul Clyburn at training on Tuesday night and he said, “It was great to come away with a 3 grade win.

Scores on the day were as follows, League tag lost 8-12, but it was a close game that the girls should have won, Under 18’s won 34-16, Reggies won 56-20 and Firsts won 42-18 Nyngan is very hard to beat at home, to their credit they have the best crowd besides the Parkes crowd.

They are very vocal and always very hard to beat no matter where they are on the ladder, they could be leading the comp or coming last, to get a win out there you gotta earn it.” “First Grade had a good win. We were down a couple of players with Captain/ Coach Chad Porter and Sammy Dwyer out for the match. But the boys played great, the front rowers lead the way with Niko playing the first 40 minutes non stop”. Jacob Smede played well filling in at fullback for Chad, he did a great job, must have done 100 ups, Malakia Folou scored two tries on the wing and it was just a great overall effort by the whole pack.” This weekend is a home game at Pioneer Oval against competition leaders Orange Cyms who are leading the comp in all four grades so it is going to be a great day of footy.

Orange Cyms are coached by ex-NRL player Jack Buchanan who played for the Parkes Spacemen last year, and ex-NRL player Daniel Mortimer is also playing for Cyms in the halfback position. So get up to Pioneer Oval this Sunday to support the Parkes Spacemen in all four grades.

 

 

 

AFL 9’s

The club is currently in week 2 of the season. Formatted as a 9 vs 9 low key, run around, social game, it is a great way to meet new people and get involved. We play 5.30 pm Monday nights.

Get involved, it’s brilliant to build up fitness before the winter season begins.

Located at Gaggin Oval for another four weeks.

Upcoming Season

The Parkes Panthers AFL club are ready to come back with a bang this season, hopefully taking out the premiership after last year’s close game against Cowra.

We have secured some solid recruits in the off season with plenty of spots still available

We are excited to announce a new Coach on the block: Dale Matheson, Who is full of passion for the club, players and the game. Supported by his number one fans, his family. Dale’s sons are also involved in the club this year: Reece, Jed and Toby.

The 2024 season will be kicking off on the 27th of April. Come along on Tuesday and Thursday nights for training at NorthParkes Oval 6.30pm: Followed by Schnitzels at the Railway Hotel in Parkes.

We are extremely thankful to have lots of support this year, some major sponsors are: Railway Hotel Parkes and some minor sponsors are: Duncan Stock Crates, Parkes Sportspower, MCA, Blatch’s, REF Construction, Power Tools Plus, Royal Hotel Manildra

Fundraiser

A valued member of our Parkes Panthers and VCR Cricket, Adrian Cole lost his family home recently in an unexpected tragic fire.

Adrian has played many seasons with Parkes Panthers, VCR Cricket Team and Forbes Platypi always brings laughter, care and sportsmanship to the club.

It is the Forbes Community time to give back on Saturday (24th of February) at a local fundraiser organised by VCR Cricket to support his family through this immensely tough time.

Everyone is invited to come along and show support. Kicking off at 6pm, Forbes Inn.

There will be live music and raffles from 6pm, over $1000 worth prizes to be won (Meat trays, cartons beer and vouchers). All proceeds raised on the night will go directly to the Cole Family

If you would like to assist in any way you can contact Jake Banks or Parkes Panthers FB page.

 

A week is a long time in football. After the high of the win over Dubbo a week ago the 14’s came back to earth with a thud. The good news was the 17’s squared the ledger with a close win over the Giants and under 14 Zain Clark was judged best on ground despite being in the losing side – a testament to how well he played on the weekend.

Last weekend, Forbes was host to four games of junior AFL beginning with the debut of the Forbes/Parkes under 10’s v Dubbo. For many of the kids this was their first foray into competition footy but that was not a worry as the under 10’s put all their skills learned at Auskick into action and came away with the win over a tenacious Dubbo outfit.

The Orange/Forbes under 14’s continued their winning run with a gritty 3.4 (22) to 1.6 (12) win against Dubbo. This was the Swamp Tigers first win over Dubbo in 2023. 

Dubbo took the early lead when James Wonderly kicked the first goal after some good lead up work from the midfield. Orange/Forbes countered Dubbo but were only able to kick two behinds to trail by four at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter the Swamp Tigers were able to assert some control, Cayden Metzeling kicked the first goal to take the lead. Dubbo pressured the Swamp Tigers goal, but resolute defence saw Dubbo only able to kick one behind. Logan McMahon kicked his first ever goal just before the halftime, Swamp Tigers took a 7-point lead at half time.

The third quarter was tight and both teams scored twice. Metzeling kicked his second goal of the day to increase the lead to 12 points at three quarter time. The fourth term was as equally as tight as the third, but it was Dubbo who created more opportunities; however accuracy proved the problem for both teams and both only managed to score behinds. Orange/Forbes held on for the win.

Three goals in the opening term helped a tenacious Orange/Forbes under 17’s overcome Dubbo in round six of the Triple M AFL Central West competition.

It was Orange/Forbes who started full of fire and kicked three goals four before Dubbo knew what had happened to take a 22 point lead into quarter time.

Dubbo hit back in the second term kicking three straight goals taking the Swamp Tigers by surprise with their physical play and ball movement, Orange/Forbes countered with some scores of their own to lead by only seventeen points at half time. 

The third term was an even affair with Orange/Forbes only able to increase the lead by 1. 

Orange/Forbes took control in the last term kicking three goals three six to kick away and record a 10.13 (73) to 6.1 (37) victory. 

The under 14’s match was played in gale force conditions, as a result points were at a premium. The Dubbo team kicked an early goal to lead by six early in the first quarter but some good work from Romulus Milsom set up Joey Bock for a goal and the score was evened up soon after, but Dubbo hit back to lead by six at the first break. 

Dubbo handled the conditions better in the second term and they kicked one goal four to nil to take a 3.4 (22) to 1.0 (6) lead into half time. Dubbo’s second term goal was to be the last goal scored for the match. 

The third and fourth terms were as tight as it comes with the Swamp Tigers having several chances but unable to convert, with the only points coming courtesy of behinds from Dubbo. Dubbo was more clinical with their possession and created more chances enabling them to take the win 3.11 (29) to 1.0 (6).

It was great day for the Forbes players with Cayden Metzeling being awarded best on ground for the 14’s. Zain Clark was strong again at the back and Romulus Milsom and Logan McMahon had their best games of the season, while in the 17’s Damien Chopping was named BOG while Reece Matheson was again instrumental in the win.

In other games, the senior side the Parkes Panthers beat Orange 7.13 (55) to 4.3 (27) on Saturday night. Congratulations to Parkes for a great night that also saw the debut of several new Parkes Auskcikers and Forbes Juniors as goal umpires. In the other junior games on Sunday Orange Youth Girls took out Dubbo 13.13 (91) to 1.0 (6)and the under 12’s Orange won 7.6 (48)to 0.2 (2).

Next week there will be no games due to the King’s birthday weekend. The junior season will get re-commence on Sunday June 18 v the Bathurst Giants in Orange, while the Panthers also tackle Giants in Parkes on Saturday 17th June.

Orange/Forbes under 14’s and 17’s both went home disappointed after respective losses to the Bathurst Giants at Giants Park in a chilly Bathurst, last Sunday. 

A strong performance from the Giants under 14’s following up from their win against the Swamp Tigers in the opening round.

Bathurst led from the first few minutes in the under 14’s match thanks to early goals and continued to dominate Orange/Forbes for the rest of the quarter kicking a total of 5 goals 5 to setup a lead of 35 points at the first break. 

After the break Bathurst continued to increase their lead while never letting the Swamp Tigers in the match through their midfield dominance and were able to use their height advantage in the forward line to kick a further six goals in the second and third terms to lead by over 70 points at three quarter time. 

The Swamp Tigers kept the Giants scoreless in the final term and were rewarded for their efforts when Hugo Fitzsimmons kicked the Swamp Tigers first and only goal.

It was a tough day for the 14’s the Swamp Tiger defence who were under siege the entire game and their efforts ensured the damage wasn’t any worse. The midfield and forward line also never dropped their heads and gave their all despite the scoreboard.

Zain Clark was judged best on ground for the game in a losing side, which states how well he played, while Hugo Fitzsimmons and Logan McMahon were the best for the Swamp Tigers.

The under 17’s suffered their first loss for the year going down to the Giants by four points in a cracking game of AFL footy.

In other junior games, Orange Youth Girls went down to Bathurst 1.2 (8) to 5.9 (39) while Orange 12’s also went down, albeit narrowly 6.6 (42) to 9.3 (57)

This week the Orange/Forbes junior’s take on the Bathurst Bushrangers in Orange.

The Swamp Tigers knew they were in for a tough game on Sunday, as the Bathurst Giants controlled possession from the first bounce. Inaccurate kicking from Orange/ Forbes and strong pressure from the Giants in the first quarter enabled the Giants to dominate but Orange/Forbes were able to stay in touching distance at the first break, trailing by only 17 points. 

Orange/Forbes made the same mistakes and Bathurst flexed their muscles and used their superior height to kick four goals to none to put the Swamp Tigers away and take an 8.12 (60) to 0.6 (6) victory. 

Despite the loss there were several promising signs for Orange/Forbes with the midfield performing well and the two best players for Orange/Forbes being debutants Logan McMahon and Raphael Milsom. 

The under 17’s featured the debut of Forbes’ Reece Matheson and it was a great day out for Reece and the rest of his teammate as Orange/Forbes took a first round win over a determined Giants 7.4 (46) to 4.5 (29). 

The third quarter saw the Swamp Tigers take control keeping the Giants scoreless while kicking 2.1 and it was even better in the fourth quarter as Orange/Forbes kicked 3.2 to take a strong win 7.4 (46) to 4.5 (29). 

Best on ground for Orange/Forbes was Harvey Shephard who kicked two goals and Reece Matheson was impressive in his debut game of AFL. 

In the other games the under 12’s won 11.9 (75) to 4.4 (28) whilst in the Youth Girls Orange won 6.9 (45) to 2.6 (18). 

Next week will see Orange/Forbes taking on the Bathurst Bushrangers over in Orange. 

Thank you for all of your support this year, it has been amazing!