Battle for the Wood Duck returns to Spring Hill!

Old boys around the region are pulling on their socks and limbering up for the year’s most anticipated rugby match, the Barry Winnell Give Me Change for Kids Charity Fundraiser.

The (usually) annual charity match sees players from the Orange Emulators, Bathurst Old Bulls, and Spring Hill Wood Ducks meet in a friendly clash at the Spring Hill Recreation Ground.

It all came about over a beer at the Spring Hill pub, says Emulator Clive Walker.

“We were calling in there because we play a ‘golden oldies’ rugby game in Carcoar and we usually stop in at Spring Hill and have an evening meal on the way home,” explains Clive. ”And Barry said, ‘We should do something like that here.’ We were just going to do it as a game and it was his idea to do it for Give Me Five for Kids.”

With the passing of Barry Winnell in September 2019, the match was renamed and a unique wooden trophy crafted in his honour.

“One of our guys has made the ‘Wood Duck Trophy’ which we play for and it’s got an emu and a wood duck on it,” says Clive, the wood duck being the animal mascot of Sprill Hill sporting teams.

The old boys will take to the field at 1pm on Sunday, October 15, but there is a whole day of fun planned at the Spring Hill Recreation Ground

“This year it’s going to have multiple games… we’ve hopefully got two under twelve sides and we hope to have a girls' match,” says Clive. “So it's a whole day, non-stop happening out there… We’ve got a lot of prizes donated but this year, one of the guys in the aero club has donated a joy flight around Orange as our major raffle prize.”

A bus will be leaving the Orange Emus ground at 10am Sunday October 15 for anyone who wants to head out for the day. Gates open at 10am with a gold coin or small note required for entry. Food and refreshments are available all day.

If you feel like taking part, bring your boots and shorts and have a run! Anyone aged over 35 is welcome to get in on the action. Just get in touch with Clive on 0429637298 and let him know you’re up for a game.

See you at the Spring Hill Recreation Ground on October 15!