One of Parkes Boars rising rugby stars Riley Byrne returned from representing the NSW Country Cockatoos Colts in South Australia as part of the Southern States Under 20 Championships.
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One of the quiet achievers in Parkes rugby circles, Riley has been making a name for himself on the field and was named vice-captain of the Cockatoos.
Playing at outside centre, Riley saw a lot of the ball and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“It was great,” Riley said.
“The overall experience was fantastic.
“To be part of such a close knit team who bonded well together was excellent.
“Being vice-captain of such a prestigious team as NSW Country is something I will always remember,” he said.
The week long tournament kicked off last Saturday in Adelaide with teams from the Australian Capital Territory, NSW Country, Queensland Country, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia vying for the championship trophy.
The Cockatoos Colts squad of twenty five players has been in training since October in preparation for the tournament which is a selection stepping stone for the National Under 20 team.
Cockatoos Colts coach Matt Thomas said while it was difficult to get the group together, it was nothing new.
“The logistics associated with identifying, selecting, assembling and preparing the squad which hails from all parts of the state was a challenge, but it was something which was not new to Country Rugby,” Thomas said.
“This year’s squad was stronger, fitter and better prepared than previous years, as the standard at the Southern States was a step up from anything the Country players have experienced in the past.”
The Cockatoos Colts opened their campaign last Saturday against Western Australia Force Colts.
Unfortunately for the Blues, the met the Force in red hot form which resulted in a loss.
They bounced back with a comprehensive win against South Australia on Monday.
They put on a classy display of running rugby in the Round 2 match to win 41 – 0.
The Cockatoo Colts dominated the match from the outset, crossing the line for a try in the 12th minute and never looking back.
Riley kicked two conversions in the match.
Players and supporters alike are hoping Riley can continue the form which saw him selected for the Cockatoos Colts for the Parkes Boars this season.
