Cover Photo: Pita Visuals

Tallon Smith

The Riverina Bulls’ 2025 Country Championships campaign is over before it even really began after an agonising 28-18 loss to a resilient Western Rams outfit at Parramore Park in Wagga Wagga on Sunday.

After leading for nearly the entire match, the Bulls were overrun in the final quarter of the game by a strong Rams outfit to suffer first round elimination at home for the second consecutive year. 

The Bulls got off to an absolute flyer, scoring two tries in the first ten minutes, the first through Tom Demeio, and a second to winger Malik Aitken out wide for a 12-0 lead.

However, the Rams dominated the clash from that point onwards, with poor discipline resulting in a try to Jack Smith to open the Western Division’s account. 

The Bulls’ lead was then reduced to two after an error off a kick led to a try to an opportunistic Dylan Kelly, with a missed conversion allowing the Bulls to take a 12-10 lead into the break.

The Bulls were given a man advantage for ten minutes after Rams centre David West was sin binned for a dangerous tackle on Riverina’s James Morgan.

Morgan then made the most of the opportunity, scoring to give the Riverina side an eight point lead once again at 18-10.

However, the gap was reduced to two again not long after when Billy Carberry crossed for the Western side.

The Rams then hit the front for the first time in the 70th minute when Kelly nabbed his second, with the conversion leaving the scoreline at 22-18 and all the pressure back on the Riverina side.

From there, the Bulls were unable to recover their lead in the end, with Jake Betts sealing the deal for the Rams two minutes from full time to secure their passage through to round two of the state’s most prestigious representative competition.

Speaking to Battlers For Bush Footy the day after the tough loss, Riverina Coach Aaron Gorrell said that while his side started well and performed strongly in patches, it was inconsistency that let them down in the end.

“We started well and that probably could have been our undoing,” he said.

“We probably couldn’t have put together a better first 10 minutes if we tried, so that was pleasing, but we went away from what we wanted to do, and that’s what got us that lead in that first 10 minutes. 

“We were good in patches throughout the game, but yeah, at that sort of level, you can’t afford to be patchy and have periods off, and that’s what we did.” 

After leading nearly all the way on the back of a strong start, Gorrell said that the second half 

“They executed better in the second half in the crunch moments when it mattered,” he said.

“We couldn’t get to play the ball either, I’m not saying that was to blame, but the ruck was a mess.

“We were banking on creating some rock speed and rolling through the middle. 

“I think if we play that game 10 times, we win 9 times, but it’s that one time that matters, it’s disappointing and I know how disappointed the players are, it’s one that they’ve let slip away.

“We had our opportunities, but our last play options and footy smarts just weren’t up to it on the day.”

As for the ongoing debate about the Country Championships format, Gorrell said that after such an extensive lead-up and preparation period, a round robin would offer more guaranteed football for players compared to the current single-elimination format.

“Especially for the reason like us, you know, it’s not an excuse, but it’s tough to try to come out and prepare for one game,” he said. 

“You can build a bit of momentum in a round robin format and you know build into your campaign and get some games together and build a bit of cohesion. 

“It’s always going to be tough for us, it’s no excuse, we were our own worst enemy, but a little bit more footy would be nice.

“It’s just finding where it fits into the calendar.”

Meanwhile, in the Women’s clash, the defending champion Rams ran out 66-0 winners over the Bulls in a one-way affair.

The Western side ran in 12 tries in the clash, with nine of them converted in a dominant display that has placed them as firm favourites for back to back Country Championships titles.

Grace Blackmore, Tiana Anderson, and Lilly Baker all scored doubles for the Rams, with nine different try scorers crossing the stripe for a four pointer during the victory.