The Boars second grade side was first out onto the luscious Apex Oval turf and had an extra spring in their step with the return of some of their favourite sons once again gracing the Maroon jumper with Timmy Lawler and Ben Rathbone adding much needed experience to the youthful side.   

The Boars took control of the opening exchanges with the forwards getting the Boars on the front foot in the tight exchanges. The ever-improving Dylan Anderson-Butt lead the way with hard hitting defence stopping the Rhinos and putting them immediately on the back foot.

Off the back of a humming lineout through the Hugh Wood – Ryan McCracken linkup, the Boars went deep into the Rhinos half once again giving the hard-running John O’Brien room to use himself as a battering ram into the defence. This gave Mitch Hutching the space to punch through the Rhinos defence line to score the opening try of the match.

The Rhinos had the bounce of the ball for the rest of the half but that wasn’t going to stop Nick Westcott from turning the ruck into a nightmare for the Rhinos, making turnover after turnover.

The second half, the Rhinos continued the way they finished the first half as they continued to bring on fresh legs from every part of the grand stand which wore down the wearisome legs of the Boars forwards.

If not for some great try saving defence from Zac Alexander and Simon Oliver the Rhinos would have stretched their lead further.

Final score 29-5

Best and Fairest points 3- John O’Brien, 2- Zac Alexander, 1 Dylan Anderson-Butt

Players Player- Mitch Hutching

The one XV headed out onto the field with a large vocal crowd on a high after the home sides win in the earlier game. But the Boars weren’t going to let that get to them and neither team could be split in the early exchanges.

Sporting a new halves combination with Brad Burrell getting his first start of the season at halfback and Captain Joshua Miles moving to Flyhalf the Boars took no time to find their feet going on the attack deep into the Rhinos half but, unfortunately, were shut down by the Rhinos electric back three. Rhinos were first to score through an unfavourable bounce of the ball sitting up into the arms of a flying Rhinos winger who turned on the afterburners to race away to score and give the Rhinos an early lead.

Rhinos 7-0

Both teams started playing through the middle of the field. The forwards were always going to be in for a torrid affair but never looked like giving an inch. The Boars lost their inform No. 8 Jarrod Westcott inside ten minutes who got to visit the Dubbo Hospital after tripping over his shoelaces and dislocating his knee.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. As Nick Westcott strode from the grandstand after wrestling the Bundy Bear all Friday night then putting in a workhorse like 70 minutes in the second grade game nothing was going to hold him back from the opportunity to get a fresh Maroon Jumper on his back and get over the white line to take up the battle for the Boars. All it took was 90 seconds before the Nick had his first turnover for the Boars.

The Boars took control of the ball and after putting phases together they kicked themselves into the Rhinos half. With space to move once again the pace and flare of the Rhinos backline was on show with the Fullback linking up with the Winger who linked back up with the other Winger who finally went back to his Fullback who dived over the line.

Rhinos 14-0

From the kickoff the Boars took back the ball through the aerial work of Toby Baigent who secured the ball and set the Boars on a trajectory headed for the Rhinos line. Jason Lowe and Josh Cornelissen had the ball on a string linking up with the elegance and polish which left the backline asking for pointers. Then the most majestic piece of play to grace a Rugby field was unbridled. Dylan Hood found himself in a position of isolation on the right hand flank with no other Parkes players insight and the Rhinos players closing in, from here his mind stopped controlling his feet and the inner ballet dancer took over. His feet went in, then away, then in, then away again, which completely wrong footed the 3 Rhinos defenders giving him the room to race around the outside of the defenders he sat on their behinds and glide over the line untouched.

Rhinos 14-5

With the clock winding down to half time and having just witnessed Hoody’s masterclass the Boars players switched off allowing the Rhinos to hit back immediately before the break stretching their lead.

Rhinos 19-5

With the half-time talk done and dusted and the fire back in the Boars eyes they came out of half time ready to claw back the lead from the Rhinos and it didn’t take long. With a pin point accuracy kick from James Sellings to his brother, landing at the exact time Jonah Ruzgas arrived to produce the tackle of the season and jolt the ball free. The ball rolled over the try line and still running on a high from his earlier try, Dylan Hood was there to dive on the ball for the fastest try in Central West Rugby history.

Rhinos 19-10

Now with their tails up it was the backlines turn to produce something special and they did not disappoint. Off the back of some undeniably ruthless runs into the heart of the Rhinos defence from Timoci Waqaisavou the space out wide started to open up. The ball got spun wide to Sammy Davis who used his pace and vision to get in behind the Rhinos defence. Sprinting down the inside was Dyllan Phillips who popped up at the right time to get the pass and beat the last defender to score the much needed try for the Boars.

Rhinos 19-15

With only minutes on the clock the Boars mounted attack after attack in a desperate attempt to get over the line with Campbell Earsman throwing himself at the defence in the search for what would be a match winning try. Despite the desperate attempts from every Parkes player it wasn’t to be and Rhinos got a turnover and snuck down the far touch line to score in the corner and signal an end to the game.

Final Score 24-15

Best and Fairest points: 3- Toby Baigent, 2- Campbell Earsman, 2- Jonah Ruzgas, 1- Timoci Waqaisavou,

Players Player- Jonah Ruzgas

This weekend the Boars are back at NorthParkes Oval to take on the Narromine Gorillas in a top of the table clash in what promises to be the clash of the round. It will also be the Boars Annual Charity Day in support of Can-Assist. Junior games will be kicking off from 11.30am.

The Boars first  XV will be playing at 3.15pm in a special one off playing jumper which will be auctioned off in the function room at the Coachman Hotel from 6.30pm. Everyone is encouraged to bring the kids down and make the most of the play equipment at the Coachman and make a bid on one of the jumpers for this great Charity.