Jamie Parsons
After five rounds of the 2024 Proten Cup competition all teams are still eligible for finals, but there’s a lot on the line for a couple clubs to make something of their season.
Men
The Barellan Rams and Rankins Springs Dragons (pictured above) took the field with second spot on the ladder up for grabs.
An early error led to a smart move off the scrum with Salesi Mahe setting up Jack Glyde. Late in the half Barellan’s Jyi Romeo hit back to wrap it up 6-all at halftime.
Barellan got in front early with a brilliant run by fullback Oswald Herrmann off a kick return, before Sam Richards dived over from close range to make it 12-all.
Once again no team could manage to kick a field goal, so the fourth draw of the season was completed - Rankins Springs’ third and Barellan’s second.
The Goolgowi Rabbitohs had their best performance of the season, looking likely to get their first win of 2024, with Daniel McCartin continuing his great season with a try.
A typically physical Proten Cup game ended with the Ivanhoe Roosters getting ahead late in match by one try, and locking up a finals spot with a two-point win 14-12.
The home town Hillston Bluebirds has personnel problems early in the day, including their captain Luke Farmer who had other commitments, but they managed to get a full side and came out firing against Narrandera.
A great attacking display by both sides had Narrandera up 16-12 at halftime.
But a lack of fitness and cohesion let down the Bluebirds in the second half, with the Lizards running away winners in the end, 34-12, with three tries to D’Andre Williams and a couple of well deserved four-pointers to Lizards legends Corey Prior and Shaun Lyons.
Scores: Barellan 12 (Jyi Romeo, Oswald Herrmann tries; Noah Forbutt 2 goals) drew with Rankins Springs 12 (Jack Glyde, Sam Richards tries; Damian Walker 2 goals); Ivanhoe 14 (Lochyer Brennan, Reginald Shepherd, Matthew Smith tries; Tarelle Jones 1 goal) bt Goolgowi 12 (Daniel McCartin, Callum Mirtschin tries; Henry Taylor 2 goals); Narrandera 34 (D’Andre Williams 3, Caleb Atkinson, Corey Prior, Luke Borg, Shaun Lyons tries; Brayden Ingram 3 goals) bt Hillston 12 (Brandon Holgate, Nathan Dauth tries; Tommy Brettschneider 2 goals)
Women
Barellan started off the day against Rankins Springs in typical fashion but it didn’t take long before they were made to work hard by the Dragonettes before getting up to a healthy 18-0 lead at halftime.
The Dragonettes defence was firm for most of the game, but a couple kick-offs found the sideline earning Barellan a couple of tries.
In the second half Barellan faced the best defence they’d come up against all season, spending most of the half on the Dragonettes’ line but only coming away with one try.
Ivanhoe have put their best team on the park twice in a row now, with a 38-6 win a fortnight ago and a 40-4 win over Goolgowi last week to put Barellan on notice.
The standout was Samantha Simpson, equalling Sophia Kelsey’s record of five tries in one match. Goolgowi managed to get on the board through Tanaya Jones.
Narrandera wrapped up their finals spot by shutting out the home team 22-0, with two tries and two goals to Kiara Crowe.
Scores: Barellan 24 (Brittany Everett, Sophia Kelsey, Anita Carter, Monique Higgins tries; Monique Higgins 4 goals) bt Rankins Springs 0; Ivanhoe 40 (Samantha Simpson 5, Nancy Tale, Tangata Toru tries; Shailyn Williams 5, Falesiu Chauncy-Moli 1 goals) bt Goolgowi 4 (Tanaya Jones try); Narrandera 22 (Kiara Crowe 2, Juhleeya Bright, Olivia Light-Wate tries; Kiara Crowe 2, Tiana Rose 1 goals) bt Hillston 0.
