Red Bend half Tom Toohey says his side is gunning to make the final of the Country Cup in 2019 and after storming to the western crown at Parkes on Wednesday there's no reason the Forbes powerhouse can't do just that.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The blue and whites turned a 24-0 lead at the break into a commanding 52-4 rout of James Sheahan Catholic High School at Pioneer Oval, Toohey setting up a couple of his side's four-pointers while crossing for another of his own to kick-off the second half.
Toohey says his side is building following a comprehensive run through the western pool of the Country Cup firstly at Dubbo and then again on Wednesday at Parkes.
And the end goal is a return trip to Dubbo for the competition's finals.
But first-up will be the champion of the southern pool on August 1.
We were a bit scrappy but everyone got around each other and we got the win.
- Red Bend half Tom Toohey.
"We were a bit scrappy but everyone got around each other and we got the win. I think we can go far, to the finals," Toohey said.
The open's win made it a Country Cup double for Red Bend, with the under 15s winning their decider against St Stanislaus College, Bathurst earlier in the day.
The young Forbes boys did the job in the first half, shooting out to a 28-4 lead before a much more competitive second-half resulted in a 36-16 final scoreline.
Man of the match Toby Miller was terrific in the grand final and said his side came to Parkes confident of victory.
"We were missing a few boys but we went out hard," Miller said.
"We've been playing together for a while now. We'll welcome a few back from injury for the next stage which will be good."
Forwards Miller, Bayden Moran, George Wilkins and Jamon McCarthy powered the Red Bend side up field, Stannies coach Jordon Boney conceding his Bathurst boys were powerless to stop the eventual champs in that first half.
He lauded the work of Jacob Smith throughout the Country Cup.
"I was surprised with how he plays rugby league ... there's plenty more of those quality boys in the side," he said.
While for Sheahan in the open's decider, Ryan Banks scored the Orange school's only try of the western final but coach Bobby Wykamp said making it through to the final was a win for his side.
"The point of coming is to give them an opportunity to play a bit of footy with their school friends," he said.
"We don't have a defined rugby league program and today was a true indication of the strength of a school like Red Bend and the program they had.
Sheahan's best were Year 10 student Jessie Buchan and 15-year-old Kaden Williams, who made the NSWCCC under 15s side.
"Those two best players out there and two or three years younger. They'll be bright prospects for our school, but the town as well," Wykamp added.
Red Bend will now progress through to the next stage of the Country Cup, which is at Cootamundra on August 1.
WANT MORE ORANGE AND REGIONAL SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...