Magpies kick off with CYMS victory

With just three weeks' training behind them, the young squad impressed coach Brad McMillan in their first hit-out.

He particularly paid tribute to the work of his forward pack, who put in some hard yards.

"Our fitness was going to be a bit off but we had the opportunity to rotate, unlimited interchange," McMillan said.

"I was pretty impressed with them across the park."

The under 18s are the only Forbes Magpies side to play competition rugby league this year.

The side boasts the experienced Jack Hartwig, Sean Towney, Tom Phillips and Connor Greenhalgh, along with Hughie Scott.

And they were joined by plenty of up and coming talent on Sunday, giving a good crowd a great display of league at Spooner Oval.

The hosts made their intentions known early, with Matt Noakes diving over under the posts within the first three minutes of the first match in an all-new western under 18s competition.

Harry Scott extended that lead to 10-nil just a few minutes later, diving on a grubber kick.

CYMS fought back with a try to Joe Yeo to make it 10-6, and there the scoreboard stayed for the majority of the second quarter, with Forbes denying CYMS.

With just one minute to go in the first half, Cale Dunn got away up the middle and flicked the ball to Noah Ryan who powered the rest of the way to the try-line.

The conversion gave CYMS a 12-10 lead at half-time, but that was the last time the young Magpies gave CYMS an in.

It only took two minutes for Tom Phillips to find the mark for the Magpies in the second half, successful conversion gave the hosts back the lead 16-10.

CYMS put the pressure on in the third quarter, but the black and white defensive line kept them out.

In the final stages of the game it was Forbes who added the extra points to extend their lead - a try to Sam Richards giving the Magpies a 24-10 victory.