Jamie Parsons
Rankins Springs becomes the latest Proten Cup side to host the annual knockout competition this weekend (Saturday 4 May).
The Rankins Springs Sport and Recreation Ground has recently undergone renovations to the dressing sheds, bathrooms and other facilities, in time for game day.
The competition is hoping for its biggest day yet with all six men’s sides and all six women’s sides set to compete in 14 games of Rugby League.
The women’s knockout began in 2022 with just three sides and already that number has doubled in two years. (2023 champions Barellan pictured above)
The men play 15-minute halves, while the women will have nine-minute halves.
The knockout draw is the same for both men and women, with games alternating between the genders throughout the day.
Pools for the day are as follows:
Pool A – Rankins Springs, Barellan, Ivanhoe
Pool B – Narrandera, Hillston, Goolgowi
Narrandera come into the knockout as the most successful side, having won three Proten Cups from the five contested so far.
Despite their success, they were unable to field a side last year at Ivanhoe. Other previous winners have been Hillston in 2018 and Ivanhoe in 2023, with the Lizards winning their three in 2019, 2021-2022.
Rankins Springs are the only side not to have made a final, with Goolgowi runners-up in 2018, Barellan in 2019 and 2023, Ivanhoe in 2021 and Hillston in 2022.
In the women’s knockout the honours have been shared, with a Narrandera-Rankins Springs combined side winning in 2022 and Barellan coming away with the spoils undefeated last year.
The packed day of Rugby League is the precursor to the Proten Cup club competition starting with round one on Saturday 18 May.
Full knockout schedule:
10am – Women’s Hillston v Goolgowi
10.25am – Women’s Rankins Springs v Barellan
10.50am – Men’s Hillston v Goolgowi
11.30am – Men’s Rankins Springs v Barellan
12.10pm – Women’s Goolgowi v Narrandera
12.35pm – Women’s Rankins Springs v Ivanhoe
1.00pm – Men’s Goolgowi v Narrandera
1.40pm – Men’s Rankins Springs v Ivanhoe
2.20pm – Women’s Hillston v Narrandera
2.45pm – Women’s Ivanhoe v Barellan
3.10pm – Men’s Hillston v Narrandera
3.50pm – Men’s Ivanhoe v Barellan
4.30pm – Women’s Final
5.00pm – Men’s Final
