Proten Cup: Round 5 Report from Hillston

By Jamie Parsons

A freezing, foggy morning as teams travelled to Hillston luckily gave way to a sunny afternoon and another great round of Proten Cup rugby league games.

With all teams still eligible for finals, a lot was on the line with a couple clubs on their last chance to make something of their season.

Women’s Games

Barellan started off the day against Rankins Springs in typical fashion, though were made to work hard to get up 18-0 at halftime.

The Dragonettes defence was firm for most of the game, with a couple kick-offs finding the sideline earning Barellan a couple tries.

In the second half Barellan faced the best defence they would 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, with a 38-6 win last week and now a 40-4 win over Goolgowi this week to put Barellan on notice.

The standout was Samantha Simpson, equalling Sophia Kelsey’s record 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.

Unfortunately the game was called off early with the second ambulance delay in as many weeks, due to a broken ankle to a Narrandera player whom we wish all the best.

Men’s Games

After a very long warm-up due to the ambulance delay, the Rams and Dragons took the field with second spot on the line.

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 kick a field goal, so the fourth draw of the season was completed, with 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 Ivanhoe getting ahead late by one try, and locking up a finals spot with a 2-point win.

The home town Bluebirds were feared to be short players early in the day, including their captain Luke Farmer who had commitments with Waratahs, but 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 by 22 points in the end, with three tries to D’Andre Williams and a couple well deserved 4-pointers to old Lizards legends Corey Prior and Shaun Lyons.

Full Scores

Women’s

Barellan 24 (Brittany Everett, Sophia Kelsey, Anita Carter, Monique Higgins tries; Monique Higgins 4 goals) defeated Rankins Springs 0

Ivanhoe 40 (Samantha Simpson 5, Nancy Tale, Tangata Toru tries; Shailyn Williams 5, Falesiu Chauncy-Moli 1 goals) defeated Goolgowi 4 (Tanaya Jones try)

Narrandera 22 (Kiara Crowe 2, Juhleeya Bright, Olivia Light-Wate tries; Kiara Crowe 2, Tiana Rose 1 goals) defeated Hillston 0

Men’s

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) defeated 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) defeated Hillston 12 (Brandon Holgate, Nathan Dauth tries; Tommy Brettschneider 2 goals)

Men’s Ladder

	W	L	D	F	A	PD	Pts
Narrand	4	–	1	122	68	54	9
Springs	2	–	3	76	52	24	7
Barellan	2	1	2	118	66	52	6
Ivanhoe	2	1	2	70	58	12	6
Hillston	1	4	–	36	130	-94	2
G’gowi	–	5	–	44	92	-48	0

Top Tryscorers – Caleb Atkinson 6, Noah Forbutt 5, Stan Herrmann 5, Jyi Romeo 4, D’Andre Williams 4

Top Pointscorers – Noah Forbutt 46, Brayden Ingram 28, Damian Walker 24, Caleb Atkinson 24

Women’s Ladder

	W	L	D	F	A	PD	Pts
Barellan	5	–	–	174	10	164	10
Ivanhoe	4	1	–	118	54	64	8
Narrand	3	2	–	72	46	26	6
Springs	2	3	–	46	84	-38	4
G’gowi	1	4	–	45	130	-85	2
Hillston	–	5	–	28	157	-129	0