Jamie Parsons

The Hillston Bluebirds are back on top of the ladder after a win in Round 5, with a greater for-and-against compared to Goolgowi, who went down in a close game against Barellan on Saturday.

Ivanhoe and Barellan are one point behind, leaving all four top teams separated by just the one competition point and all able to claim the minor premiership in Round 6.

Deniliquin ran out with only 12 players and despite Hillston agreeing to match their numbers and play 12 v 12, they couldn’t stop the Bluebirds from running rampant with a 68-0 final scoreline, including hat-tricks to Sentiki Taqabale and coach Tommy Brettschneider.

Shoutout to Hillston captain Nathan Brettschneider, who played the majority of the game for Deniliquin.

A controversial second game saw Ivanhoe take a 4-point win against Rankins Springs. The Dragons jumped out to a 8-0 lead and led at halftime 14-8.

Fullback Lochyer Brennan scored two tries off grubbers in the first half and completed his hat-trick with an 80m try in the second half, after a clear knock-on in an attempt to catch a bomb down the other end.

Rankins Springs didn’t play to the whistle and another try to Ivanhoe had them up and they managed to hold on to their lead.

Barellan finally fielded a full team for the first time in 2026 and didn’t disappoint taking the game to 1st-placed Goolgowi.

With the scores locked at 10-all going into the final ten minutes, a break and dash to the line by fullback Luke Farmer won the game for the Rams 14-10, with a ankle injury to Farmer in the process.

Women’s games

The Barellan v Goolgowi game was moved to the first timeslot after a Goolgowi request, and they got their first win of the season with a very close 6-4 win, only a Haley Marshall goal separating the two teams and keeping Goolgowi in premiership running.

Ivanhoe and Rankins Springs played a top of the table clash and didn’t disappoint, going in 4-all at halftime.

A late Bella Hannon try won the game for the Hens and wrapped up the minor premiership.

They will meet again in the major semi-final in two weeks time. Hillston won their second win of 2026 with a 24-0 shutout of Deniliquin, with two tries to Hazel Hackett.

Hillston moves up to third spot on the ladder.