With Forbes not fielding a Colts side this year, Saturday’s first match was third grade and the Gorillas were soon up 3-0 thanks to a Joe McCutcheon penalty goal.

Flash evasive running by Josh Barlow produced a try, converted by McCutcheon: 10-0.

Forbes scored early after the break (10-5), but then were done. Trent Jacobson kicked a penalty goal with 8 minutes to go (13-5): then the Gorillas lifted.

Magic tries to Henry Buttsworth and Ryan Mayes (still with those wonderful ball skills!), the latter try converted by Jacobson and it was an historic win 25-5 to the Thirsty Thirds.

Daniel Treseder had a blinder, particularly in the tackling department; Jock Crawford effected a great steal from his opposite number at the back of one maul; while it was good to see Tim Gibson back on the paddock.

Ten minutes into the second grade fixture, Nick Wilson shot over in trademark fashion: 5-0. Forbes replied the following minute: 5-5!

Three minutes later, a quick Wilson tap saw Kale Bock through a gap and over.

Doug Potter’s conversion made it 12-5.

Soon after, a burst by Ben Staines was followed by quick hands from Andrew Gill and James Walsh for a Potter try.

Potter was in again before half-time (after another Wilson break and support from Phil Miles), converting for a 24-5 ledger.

The second stanza was a little slower, but the Gorillas still managed two good tries (Wilson’s quinella, and Potter’s trifecta, the last showcasing a great “in-and-away” after receiving the ball following a top Tod Porter break).

Between the main games, the many children at the rugby were invited to release an abundance of pink balloons, in support of the Jane McGrath Foundation with the assistance of our Ladies Day participants.

Narromine’s first grade faced the Roo-beating Forbes boys, and outscored them two tries to one in each half, the four Gorilla tries meaning a very valuable bonus point.

Scott Burgess had a blinder, his outstanding season continues.

As well as converting all four tries and kicking a penalty goal (in CJ’s absence), Burgess scored one try, and had a major input to two others.

Luke Harding was in perfect position to field Burgess’ pin-point centre kick and score the first; Craig Shibble iced the cake for the second, after good early yards by Charlie MacInnes and Jeremy Brown, and then a devastating fend by Burgess; Burgess himself finished off a planned backline move for the third; while Harding flew in for the fourth.

Brown led from the front once again; George Quigley was effective in the heat of the kitchen; Dan Maroulis contributed mightily, as did Shibble, MacInnes, Sam Ward and Craig Duff.

A wee clarification on last week’s advice: there are two separate raffles at $10 a pop, with your choice of $4000 worth of FarmOz ‘Wipeout’, or a luxury two nights in Melbourne.

Tickets available from either Ag N Vet or Landmark.

Also, our best wishes go with Tim Barnett as he commences his ‘job of a lifetime’ on Heron Island.

Tim has played in each of Colts, firsts, seconds and thirds, and has been a wonderful Club man and a thoroughly good bloke.

Go Tim the Gorilla.

This Saturday Narromine travel to Cowra (who don’t field a Third grade team: that’s 2 weeks in a row our thirds won’t be beaten).