Parkes Boars Colts rugby union team put in a strong second half performance to overcome Orange City Lions 29-12 at Northparkes Oval last Saturday.
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Led by a superb Riley Byrne performance, the Boars consolidated on a 7-0 half-time lead to score three second half tries in a commanding performance.
Byrne was well supported by Thomas Bateson, Iszac Oliver and Dylan Phillips to earn a victory over the second placed Lions which saw the Boars climb to fifth on the ladder.
The opening exchanges saw honours shared as neither side could breakthrough some solid defence.
It was Parkes who opened the scoring in the 14th minute through Jason Lowe.
With a player from both sides on the sidelines after receiving yellow cards, Iszac Oliver made a bust which saw Lowe crash over for the first try.
As play opened up, the Boars’ Alister Kopp produced some big tackles to keep the charging Lions at bay, causing the visitors to turn over possession on a number of occassions.
City looked destined to score before a Dylan Phillips try-saving tackle saw neither side able to add to their score before half-time.
Needing to produce a big second half, the Boars started on the front foot with a strong Byrne run which he followed with a bone crunching tackle.
They jumped out to a 10-0 lead when Cody Bruce converted a penalty goal attempt.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, the Boars lead was extended to 15 points when Thomas Bateson crashed over.
In danger of being blown away, City responded with a try of their own for 15-7 in the 14th minute.
When Bateson grabbed his double with 10 minutes remaining, the Boars looked destined for a morale boosting win.
A beautiful flick pass from Iszac Oliver found Bateson with a clear run to the line.
Bruce’s successful conversion had the Colts out to 22-7.
Dylan Phillips put the icing on the cake with a long range effort to score under the posts for 29-7.
A late Lions try could not take the gloss off an excellent Boars performance as they are poised for a good run into the finals.
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SECOND GRADE
Parkes Boars second grade’s run of good results came to an end last Saturday at the hands of Orange City Lions.
The match was always going to be a difficult task for the fifth placed Boars as they hosted the joint top of the table Lions.
Dennis Webb and Marika Korovoi were the pick of the Boars players who were outclassed by a formidable Lions 15.
Down 22-5 at half-time, the Boars struggled to make inroads into the Lions defence, despite an improved second half defensive effort.
The match started promisingly for the Boars with Israel Symington and Myles Smith working well to move the ball down field and put the Lions defence under pressure.
Symington opened the scoring after turning a line out win into a maul before busting free to run 25 metres and score in the 12th minute.
That was the end of the joy for the Boars as City hit back four minutes later to level the scores.
Another Lions try against the run of play saw them out to 10-5 before two tries in the last six minutes saw the sides go to the sheds at 22-5.
A fiery second half three yellow cards and a red card.
In an improved defensive effort, the Boars held the Lions out despite being a player down until the final 10 minutes.
The converted try took the score to 29-5 before the final whistle was sounded.
