There are promising signs of a good season ahead for the Parkes Boars, according to club president and first grade player Mackenzie Green. He said Saturday's season launch for the rugby club at Spicer Oval which included a trial match in first grade against the Geurie Goats showed it. "We played well," Green said. "They were tough... They're a quality side but a really promising first run for the year." Green found the side gelled really well at times and club coach Paul Moody said he was very happy with the performance. "We executed a few things from training, that's the beauty of preseason matches," Green said. It's allowed them to focus on a range of areas of the game and make improvements and adjustments where necessary. The Parkes Colts side too had a run in Orange the same day. "They played good, they won two out of their three games and a few of those players backed it up and came back and played with us," Green said. It's exciting times actually for the Colts and those moving up to seniors after the Parkes under 18s returned to the competition in 2024 for the first time in about six years. "We have our first converts," Green said, thrilled. "We're definitely seeing the benefits of that now and it's beneficial in two ways - it provides depth in our squads and in converting too." Among the standout players for Green this season will be those stepping up from Colts into firsts like Tye Toomey and Malakai Folau. The seniors will get another opportunity this weekend to test themselves before the 2025 New Holland Cup season kicks off on 12 April, when they travel to Boorowa for the Beer and Rugby Festival. It's set to bring a massive day of hard-hitting action for both men and women. With 16 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams converging on the small town, this festival is all about celebrating the best of grassroots rugby. The action kicks off at 11am, with the final game wrapping up at 5.30pm. Each team will play three games, giving them the chance to hone their skills before kicking back with some beverages perhaps. Teams taking the field include: The men’s competition will see Boorowa Goldies, Cooma Red Devils, Cowra Eagles, Griffith Blacks, Harden Red Devils, Parkes Boars, Taralga Tigers, Uni Norths Owls, Wagga Ag College, Young Yabbies, and Queanbeyan Whites battle it out in 20-minute, 15-a-side games. In the women’s division, Boorowa Goldilocks, Cooma Red Devils, Griffith Blacks, Parkes Boars, Uni Norths Owls, Wagga Ag College, Wests Canberra Rugby Club, Young Yabbies, Queanbeyan Whites, and Cowra Eagles will compete in 15-minute, 10-a-side matches. Green has returned to the helm of the Parkes Boars Rugby Union Club for his second year as president. He's joined by vice president and women's coach Kevin Oliver, club coach Moody and Colts coach Kieran Duncan. Also returning are secretary Kimberley Ryan, treasurer Christopher Parker and junior president Chris Summerhayes. And stepping up for her first run as the women's president is Natalie Caruana.
