Hay Magpies

The Hay Magpies is a rugby league football club based in the town of Hay, in the western Riverina of New South Wales, Australia. The club currently plays in Group 20 (since 2007)in South Western NSW. The switch came after the collapse of Group 17. The competition is governed by the Country Rugby League (CRL). The team colours are Black, White and Silver and the club is named after the ubiquitous Australian Magpie. The Hay Magpies have a proud tradition; they have been the most successful team in the history of Group 17, winning 12 premierships. (see details below). The Club is supported by a fanatical Group of fans, who love their Club and follow through thick and thin. The Club is proud of its status as a family Club, and its efforts to promote the sport of Rugby League by staging its Annual Pie in the Sky matches which feature former NRL, State of Origin and Test players alongside the current Magpie team. Players used in Pie in the Sky matches have been David Furner, Andrew McFadden, Wayne (Snoopy) Collins (2006 v Goolgowi); Gary Belcher and Darren Smith (2007 v Griffith Black and Whites); Mark Toooookey (2008 v TLU ) Simon Woolford, Shane (Billy) Millard and Ben Roarty (2009 v DPC). Former Melbourne Storm premiership player Ben Roarty played the season with the Magpies in 2009 and was a member of the premiership winning side. In 2011, the Club gained full Group status with a First Grade, Reserve Grade, Under 18, Under 16 and League Tag combinations. Former Welsh International prop (eleven caps) Gareth Price was appointed Captain/coach of the first grade team (http://www.sportingpulse.com/club_info.cgi?client=7-2186-23531-0-0&sID=71257&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=14474331&sectionID=71257). The season started with the Magpies playing an All Star team coached by Arthur Beetson, captained by Mal Meninga, and containing SuperStars Gary Belcher Laurie Daley, Bradley Clyde, Marcus Bai, Matt Geyer, Ken Nagas, Andrew McFadden, Jason Croker, David Furner, Ben Roarty, Mark Tookey, Simon Woolford, Quentin Pongia and Shane Millard, with the match referee Bill Harrigan. Game won by All Stars 50-8 ( Ken Nagas 2, David Furner 2, Bradley Clyde, Matt Geyer, Simon Woolford, *Mitchell Rosser, * Setelo Tuimoala (Hay players*)tries, David Furner 4, Matt Geyer 2, Andrew McFadden goals) Hay Magpies 8 (Ryan Gash, Damien Kennedy tries) Crowd (estimated) 2500...FANTASTIC WEEKEND OF RUGBY LEAGUE http://www.sportingpulse.com/club_info.cgi?client=7-2186-23531-212982-0&sID=71257&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=15054991