Forbes Platypi Rugby Union Club has celebrated the 2019 season at the annual presentation night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Rugby union club president Rhys Woods opened the night with acknowledgement of the committee, the coaching team, registrars, Old Boys, volunteers and sponsors, then turned the spotlight on the players.
The night's major awards went to:
- Old Boys Award: Luke Evans
- Paul Cronin Cup: Tom Macleay
- Club Person of the Year: Will Nash
- Player of the Finals (women's 10s) Lillyann Mason-Spice
- Player of the Finals (First XV) Charlie French
- Supporter of the Year (Jasprizza): Marg Stirling
- Supporter of the Year (Francis): Jo Burns
- Footballer of the Year: Charlie Francis
- First XV Best Back: Mahe Fangpo
- First XV Best Forward: Luke Evans
- First XV Best and Fairest: Luke Evans
- First XV Squad Coaches Award: Ben Kelly and Jock Grant
- Second XV Best Back April Townsend
- Second XV Best Forward Harry Sellers
- Second XV Best and Fairest Jock Grant
- Second XV Coaches Award Sam Smith
- Women's 10s Best Back: April Townsend
- Women's 10s Best Forward: Amy Townsend
- Women's 10s Best and Fairest: April Townsend
- Women's 10s Coaches Award: Emma Evans
Marty Herbert was recognised for notching up 100 games with the Forbes Platypi.
Woods also highlighted the individual achievements to come out of the club in 2019:
- Mahe Fangupo and Charlie French for their part in Central West's victory at NSW Country Week and for their selection in the Country Cockatoos squad to tour in Adelaide;
- Maggie Townsend for selection in the Australian Police Forces Women's Rugby Team to tour Hong Kong'
- Lil Mason-Spice, for her part in Central West's victory at NSW Country Week, including her award as NSW Country Week Womens Player of the Tournament, and for her selections in development squads (see back page).
"Although team success has been elusive, we have harboured some fantastic individual performances among our ranks," Woods said.
Still, two out of three senior teams made it into the semi-finals, and that's not bad.
First grade started the season with lacklustre three-loss streak but finished up with nine losses for seven wins.
"I think this change of momentum is telling of the improved fitness work, lifted intensity, consistent team sheets and a want to play for yourselves and for each other," Woods said.
"It took many years to build to the 2017 premiership and it is clear that we've had a change of the guard in many ways in we're in a phase of rebuilding.
"The momentum is already gathering and I hope you return again for 2020."
The Wolfpack, or Second XV, struggled for player numbers but they weren't without their success stories.
"In a somewhat absurd way, these were some of the greatest moments of the year in 2nd grade," Woods said.
"In round 12 we lost 42 - 0 in Cowra, but we only had 12 blokes on the paddock. They should have put 100+ points on us with a three-man overlap and rolling substitutions but they didn't. It's been a pleasure to play with you gents."
For the first time this year, the Platypi fielded a women's team and that team certainly made an impact in the competition.
"I must acknowledge the 25 legends that made this team real: that wore old Colts jumpers for the first four weeks, that gave it their all to learn a new game and teach others who to play, that played away as strong as they played at home, that beat the Bathurst Bulldogs at Bulldogs (the only team to achieve this), and that made it to the semi-finals in their very first year," Woods said. "Congratulations."
