Tallon Smith & Jamie Parsons
Barellan’s men’s side have finally repeated their women’s side’s grand final feats, winning the Proten Cup Group 17 premiership for the first time in 22 years against Ivanhoe 22-20 at Stan Peters Oval in Hillston on Saturday.
Barellan’s men’s side started their game the way their three-time champion girls’ finished, dominating early exchanges with Ivanhoe.
Luke Farmer went over from close range with a show-and-go, second-rower Gary Braddick ran through a gap to score the Rams second not long after and a disallowed try to Ivanhoe’s Shaun Aylett saw Barellan co-coach Adam Thomas score out wide for the Rams to put them 16-0 up at halftime.
Another disallowed Ivanhoe try saw Barellan hit back straight away again with Farmer going through from his own half and finding co-coach Noah Forbutt up the middle to put the Rams 22-0 ahead.
Ivanhoe finally got one back with a try in the corner to Jake Whyman midway through the second half, and then again to five-eighth Jermaine Dixon to have them back in striking distance.
A flurry of penalties saw Ivanhoe with ample opportunity and from a tap restart Shaun Aylett did it all himself to force his way over to have the score at 22-14 with eight minutes to play.
Four minutes later Aylett repeated the very same play to barge his way over from another penalty tap and the Roosters were within 2.
Within the last minute of play Ivanhoe had three penalties within Barellan’s half but elected to tap the ball each time, and a last ditch grubber kick almost paid off but they were unable to ground the ball and Barellan came away victors 22-20 in a thrilling game very worthy of a Grand Final.
Rams centre Mesu Navakayala was named player of the match.
Barellan star and first try scorer Luke Farmer said that despite the strong start to the match from the Rams, it was a nervous finish when the Roosters came roaring back.
“[In] the first half we had the wind behind us and we scored 16 points, was 16-0 at halftime,” he said.
“We laid the platform in that first half, which was good.
“That was the very best half all year, and going into half time, we were positive.
“We started the second half well against the wind, it was 22-0, and then, credit to Ivanhoe, that last 20 minutes, they were tough.
“They came home strong.”
The win ended a 22-year wait for Barellan whose last Group 17 triumph came courtesy of a 22-2 defeat of Rankins Springs in 2003.
Playing his first season for the club, Farmer said it was a special moment to be able to deliver the town its first premiership in almost a quarter of a century.
“It was a good day from the start, all the supporters turned up and all the old guys, the ones that played in that last Premiership and they were very proud after the game,” he said.
“Last year was a great year for Tahs, and to be successful there and then come into Barellan this year, I knew half of them before I played, they’re a great bunch of boys and the new fellas I’ve met have been great.
“It’s a great club, it’s a good family club, and to get another Premiership, it’s just happy days honestly, because they don’t come along often.”
With the match being played in Hillston, the two sides met almost at halfway, which ensured a healthy crowd turned out for the match, many of whom followed the team back to the Commercial Hotel in Barellan for the celebrations.
“It was a good crowd, Goolgowi, Rankins Springs, they took a bus out so they came and supported both teams,” he said.
“Walking into the Barellan pub last night was a very good moment, walking in there with the trophy.
“It was a good celebration on Saturday night.”
Earlier in the day, the all-conquering Barellan side started the day off with a third straight premiership in the women’s competition, defeating the Ivanhoe Hens for the third time in a Grand Final.
Barellan had defeated Ivanhoe 16-14 and 26-6 in the 2023 and 2024 deciders, yet it was the Hens who started the game the better, kicking an early penalty for a 2-0 lead.
Despite repeated attacks on the Rams line, they weren’t able to convert them into points and Barellan hit back with a try off a grubber kick to Amie Fazekas.
Sophie Taylor grabbed another one before halftime and the Rams were firmly in control again.
It was all one way traffic in the second half with three tries to Sophia Kelsey, Barellan retaining the Proten Cup for another year.
Kelsey was named Player of the Match.
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