By Tallon Smith

The Narrandera Lizards, Hillston Bluebirds, Goolgowi Rabbitohs and Ivanhoe Roosters have emerged from the Proten Community Cup regular season as the finalists for the 2023 season.

The Lizards kept their perfect record intact after a nail-biting 19-18 win over Round 6 hosts Goolgowi on Saturday afternoon.

Glen Borg was the hero for Narrandera, landing a field goal to secure the win, which asserts Narrandera’s status as title favourites in 2023.

Kaijen Johnson and Henry Taylor both scored doubles for the Lizards and Rabbirohs respectively, whilst another standout performer was Narrandera’s Malek Afuamua-Lyons, who is developing somewhat of a cult status locally.

Narrandera President Shaun Lyons said winning the Minor Premiership is “good for the whole town.”

“I think it’s been deserved,” Lyons said.

“It’s an achievement five years in the making.”

“It’s good for the whole town.”

Lyons expects the finals to be “quite competitive”, as the hunters-turned-hunted shape up for a tilt at back-to-back titles.

“There’s been two top teams all year [Narrandera and Goolgowi],” he said.

“Hillston snuck under everyone’s guard.”

When asked if he believes his side has what it takes to go all the way again, Lyons unsurprisingly showed his faith in his side.

“I think they can [go back-to-back],” he said.

“Our discipline on the field has been a big plus.

“We have a mixture of old and young blokes, the experienced fellas will lead the way, and the young fellas will come off the back of it.

“Having a few older blokes like Kye Longford and Clinton Green helps to keep the boys in check and remind them it’s about football.”

Bluebirds, Roosters chalk up wins heading into finals

The Hillston Bluebirds have leapfrogged the Rabbitohs for second after a 38-6 win over the Rankins Springs Dragons in the opening game on Saturday.

Luke Farmer starred for the Hillston side scoring four tries and kicking five goals for a personal haul of 26 points, which brought his season tally to 56, and saw him take out the leading point scorer award for 2023.

Tale Delai, Matt Demamiel, Jardin Morcome also ran in tries for the Bluebirds, who will face Narrandera in the Major Semi Final on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Damian Walker scored all of the points for Rankins Springs, converting his own lone try for his side’s 6 points.

The Dragons have now missed the finals for the first time since the competition restarted in 2018, the last club to do so.

In the middle game, the Ivanhoe Roosters got a much needed win heading into finals by defeating a gallant Barellan side 38-18.

The Roosters totalled their 38 points in an unorthodox manner, scoring 9 tries and just one goal, with Willie Charles (2), Anthony Jones, Michael Mogliotti, Jermaine Dixon, Lochyer Brennan, Phillip Hunter, Jonathan Hart, Jake Whyman all running in tries in what could have been a 54-18 win.

In all honesty, it seems a little unfair to the efforts of Barellan, who were in the contest in every game they played, that they finish the year winless, but this perhaps serves more to highlight the competitiveness of the league than anything else.

Ivanhoe will now face Goolgowi in the Elimination Semi Final, with both sides not only capable of winning the match, but also the premiership should they progress through.

“Strongest year on and off the field”: McDermott

Proten Community Cup President and Barellan Secretary Jimmy McDermott believes that “overall the competition has been great” in 2023.

“For the Proten Community Cup this year has been the strongest on and off the field,” he said.

“The standard’s been great, I don’t think there’s been many blowouts.

“The camaraderie has [also] been as great as ever, players mix socially with players from other clubs.”

McDermott believes that the Finals race is wide open, with all not much between all four clubs on their day.

“Narrandera, reigning premiers, what they’ve done this year is amazing, after losing [players from] last year’s premiership side,” he said.

“I think Goolgowi haven’t played their best football yet, they’ve got the forward pack of the comp.”

“If Goolgowi get their full side on the paddock and perform at their best, they are a good chance.

“Hillston, you don’t know what you’re gonna get, but when you’ve got a side full of players like Jock Potter, Brent Pike and Luke Farmer, you’re hard to beat.

“Ivanhoe, they’ve slipped down to fourth spot, but they’re still a chance too.

“It’s really gonna be who travels and turns up on the day.”

As for his Barellan Rams, McDermott believes that the young side is improving and will be even more competitive in 2024.

“We’re going through a rebuilding stage at the moment,” he said.

“We’ve got a completely new crop of players coming through.”

The Rams live on in 2023 through their undefeated premiership favourite Women’s side.

Women’s 9s

In the Women’s Nines, Barellan finished the season undefeated courtesy of an 18-0 shutout of Ivanhoe in the middle game on Saturday. The Rams have done the opposite of their men’s team, comfortably sweeping aside all opposition on their way to the Minor Premiership, whilst the Roosters remain in second, meaning the sides will meet again in the Major Semi Final Narrandera.

Speaking of Narrandera, the Lizards fell 16-4 to a determined hometown Goolgowi side in the main Women’s game on Saturday. Sophia Kelsey was the standout for Goolgowi, scoring 2 tries and kicking 2 goals for 12 of her side’s 16 points. Ironically, the Lizards and the Rabbitohs will also meet again this weekend in the Minor Semi Final, with the Lizards holding home ground advantage courtesy of their Men’s side’s placing.

And finally, Rankins Springs opened their account for season 2023, with a hard-fought 12-8 win over Hillston. Tiarra Hardwick, Brooke Streat and Rebecca Johns scored the Dragons’ tries, with the win ensuring that despite finishing as wooden spooners, the side avoided the dreaded duck egg for the year. Although both sides have missed the finals, the standard of play has been quite incredible for all sides in the competition, given that a vast number are playing a full season of tackle football for the first time this year.

Full Men’s Proten Community Cup Results 2023

Round 1 (Barellan)

Rankins Springs 6-18 Narrandera

Goolgowi 12-18 Ivanhoe

Barellan 16-22 Hillston

Round 2 (Ivanhoe)

Goolgowi 32-22 Barellan

Narrandera 40-8 Hillston

Ivanhoe 30-12 Rankins Springs

Round 3 (Rankins Springs)

Barellan 16-34 Narrandera

Hillston 24-22 Ivanhoe

Rankins Springs 6-28 Goolgowi

Round 4 (Hillston)

Goolgowi 36-4 Ivanhoe

Rankins Springs 4-50 Narrandera

Hillston 28-22 Barellan

Round 5 (Narrandera)

Hillston v Goolgowi cancelled (draw)

Rankins Springs 21-20 Barellan

Narrandera 24-18 Ivanhoe

Round 6 (Goolgowi)

Hillston 38-6 Rankins Springs

Ivanhoe 38-18 Barellan

Goolgowi 18-19 Narrandera

Standings: Narrandera 12pts, Hillston 9, Goolgowi 7, Ivanhoe 6, Rankins Springs 2, Barellan 0.

Finals Draw

Week 1 (Narrandera)

Major Semi: Narrandera v Hillston

Minor Semi: Goolgowi v Ivanhoe

Week 2 (Hillston)

Preliminary Final: Loser Major Semi v Winner Minor Semi

Week 3 (Goolgowi)

Grand Final: Major Semi Winner v Prelim Winner

Full Women’s Proten Community Cup Results 2023

Round 1 (Barellan)

Rankins Springs 0-20 Narrandera

Goolgowi 18-20 Ivanhoe

Barellan 42-0 Hillston

Round 2 (Ivanhoe)

Goolgowi 0-40 Barellan

Narrandera 4-20 Hillston

Ivanhoe 48-4 Rankins Springs

Round 3 (Rankins Springs)

Barellan 26-0 Narrandera

Hillston 20-16 Ivanhoe

Rankins Springs 14-22 Goolgowi

Round 4 (Hillston) 

Goolgowi 8-32 Ivanhoe

Rankins Springs 12-18 Narrandera

Hillston 4-36 Barellan

Round 5 (Narrandera)

Goolgowi 26-8 Hillston

Barellan 38-0 Rankins Springs

Ivanhoe 14-8 Narrandera

Round 6 (Goolgowi)

Rankins Springs 12-8 Hillston

Barellan 18-0 Ivanhoe

Goolgowi 16-4 Narrandera

Standings: Barellan 12pts, Ivanhoe 8, Goolgowi 6, Narrandera 4, Hillston 4, Rankins Springs 2.

Finals Draw

Week 1 (Narrandera)

Major Semi: Barellan v Ivanhoe

Minor Semi: Goolgowi v Narrandera

Week 2 (Hillston)

Preliminary Final: Loser Major Semi v Winner Minor Semi

Week 3 (Goolgowi)

Grand Final: Major Semi Winner v Prelim Winner

Cover Photo: Narrandera remain unbeaten heading into the finals after a nailbiting 19-18 win over Goolgowi