Jamie Parsons

The Rankins Springs Sport & Rec turned time back to the 1950s when a rainy day turned the field into a muddy mess in the latter half of the day.

Goolgowi and Hillston battled out a draw to remain tied at the top of the table, Ivanhoe won both respective games over Deniliquin and the Dragons celebrated their 100 years with two wins at home including their women’s first victory over premiers Barellan.

Women’s Games

Deniliquin’s effort across both women’s and men’s teams is to be commended, and their girls put on a tough display again against the top-of-the-table Ivanhoe Hens side. Aimee McGuckin scored two tries as Ivanhoe ran away winners 22-0.

Goolgowi and Hillston were both looking for their first win of the season, with the Bluebirds suffering some close losses in the opening rounds.

Tries to Tulia Ciri from Hillston and Mckenzie Dowell from Goolgowi had them tied 4-4 for most of the game until Hillston was awarded a penalty near the posts very late in the second half. Nicola Blight-McKeon stepped up to kick the penalty goal and give Hillston a 6-4 win.

Rankins Springs had never beaten Barellan and despite a very different looking Rams side, they still had quality over the park and scored with Aimee McGuckin backing up from Ivanhoe.

Springs captain Brooke Streat scored early and another by debutant Una Buadromo had the Dragons up 12-4 at halftime.

Another try to Buadromo was the only score in the second half, Springs winners 18-4

Men’s Games

Ivanhoe needed a win to keep touch with the top 4 and took the opportunity against a 12-man Deniliquin side.

The teams played 12-on-12 but Ivanhoe had plenty of reserves and took the lead early.

A Deniliquin try before halftime had them on the board, behind 24-4 at the break.

Ivanhoe’s quicker backs took advantage of the player advantage and ran in several tries, though Deniliquin got their second. Roosters fullback Owen Whyman scored a hat-trick and four goals, Roosters win 58-10.

Hillston took the lead early in the top of the table clash with Goolgowi, winger Saul Railo scoring twice to have them up 10-0, but Goolgowi centre Ollie Taylor got one back for a 10-4 halftime score.

Henry Taylor scored the only try in the second half which was dominated by rain, and the end result was a draw to keep the teams tied on 5 points in first and second place.

Barellan captain Noah Forbutt set out to ruin the Dragons celebrations early, a break off an offload leading to a Josh Langman try after five minutes.

Halfback Josh Richards soon got the Dragons on the board with a solo try, converted for a 6-4 lead at halftime.

With the ground very muddy the game turned into an old-fashioned slugfest, but the Springs spread the ball better with centre Jack Glyde taking advantage of an overlap on the right, and other centre Brad Gilbert running into space off a Billy Vearing pass on the left to have the Dragons up 16-4.

Back-up Henry Taylor kept the Rams in the game with 5 minutes left, but the Dragons held firm on home soil to win 16-10.

Full Results

Women’s

Ivanhoe 22 (Aimee McGuckin 2, Clare Temby, Bella Hannon, Falesiu Chauncy-Moli tries; Falesiu Chauncy-Moli goal) defeated Deniliquin 0.

Hillston 6 (Tulia Ciri try; Nicola Blight-McKeon goal) defeated Goolgowi 4 (Mckenzie Dowell try).

Rankins Springs 18 (Una Buadromo 2, Brooke Streat tries; Natalie Gibbs 2, Tash Tuckett goals) defeated Barellan 4 (Aimee McGuckin try).

Men’s

Ivanhoe 58 (Owen Whyman 3, Nick Clark 2, Phillip Hunter 2, Ethan Harris, Shayne Kennedy, Tom Schiller, Clay Jones, Jermaine Dixon, Jonno Hart tries; Owen Whyman 4 goals) defeated Deniliquin 10 (Brad Callaghan, Phil Leatham tries; George Robertson goal).

Hillston 10 (Saul Railo 2 tries; Brayden Davis goal) defeated Goolgowi 10 (Ollie Taylor, Henry Taylor tries; Henry Taylor goal).

Rankins Springs 16 (Josh Richards, Jack Glyde, Brad Gilbert tries; Damian Walker 2 goals) defeated Barellan 10 (Joshua Langman, Henry Taylor tries; Noah Forbutt goal).