Sport
14 May, 2024
Galahs hand Ewes first loss (Part 1)
Flamin Galahs create history to defeat Walgett Ewes, while the Pink Parrot returns.
The Pink Parrot is pleased to be back on deck and cleared from any ANZAC Day post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. It’s been tumultuous times these last few weeks, a St George Illawarra Dragon GOAT in the name of Mark Gasnier purchased most of the Parrot’s memorabilia at a recent garage sale (particularly the 2010 premiership jerseys, framed photos, and portraits).
After working out that the said garage sale was in the Western Plains Rugby Union zone, Mark Gasnier decided to have a week here in ‘God’s country’. Knowing there was time to kill between the garage sale and tri-tag rugby in Warren and in Gilgandra, Gasnier foolishly accepted the Parrot’s invitation to stay with him.
Not knowing what he’d got himself into, Gasnier was consigned, on a daily basis to watching three full 80-minute replays of the 2010 grand final victory over the Roosters, with the Parrot often pressing pause to discuss Jamie Soward plays and Matt Cooper tackles. This proved to be just the therapy the Parrot needed. At 2am on Sunday morning with Gaz, the Parrot was burning the Roosters jersey he secretly bought at Victory Lap Sports.
The Parrot has conceded “while the Penrith Panthers have got the watch, St George have got the time; Shane and Kyle Flanagan will be the next Ivan and Nathan Cleary”. Further evidence of the Parrot being over his PTSD was on display at the Gilgandra Services Club on Mother’s Day, with the Parrot proudly wearing his St George polo shirt and telling anybody he spoke to “we’re back baby, the way we did the rabbits in yesterday, I can see us cracking the top four”.
Onto the rugby now and in the women’s tri tag the Flamin’ Galahs were again the better team, than their foes Walgett at full-time, grinding out an historic 12-5 victory. Greg King reported that it was the first time in Western Plains Women’s Rugby Union history, that the Walgett Ewes had their colours lowered on Saturday by the mighty Gulargambone Flamin’ Galahs. The Galahs finally did what no team in the competition’s history has ever done, by scoring a gallant 12-5 victory over their arch nemeses.
But earlier in the day, Saturday’s games appeared likely not to go ahead. For the first time in many people's memory, the Coonamble shire closed the Gulargambone Oval due to the alleged state of the playing field from the inclement weather. The day's rugby games between Gulargambone and Walgett looked as though they may be washouts.
However, the Gilgandra Rugby League Football Club and the Gilgandra shire stepped in to allow the rugby union games to be played at McGrane Oval in Gilgandra after their respective matches against Gulgong. A huge thank you goes out to those two organisations for allowing the rugby club to do so. This was very much appreciated.
