by Tallon Smith (12/04/2022) 700km North-West of Sydney, where the plains turn to a dusty landscape, a Rugby League oasis centred around the Barwon-Darling River continues to nurture rich talent and keep the ‘greatest game of all’ alive. The Barwon Darling Rugby League, created around 20 years ago after the collapse of Group 15 in 1992, allows Far North West towns to continue to play … Continue reading SPOTLIGHT: Out on the Dry Plains
by Tallon Smith Out in the parched semi-arid plains west stretching from the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area to the Central Darling Shire and beyond, a competition has proved that age, distance, finances, past misdemeanours and the prolonged decline of rural towns is no barrier to footy. In fact, the people of Barellan, Goolgowi, Hillston, Ivanhoe, Narrandera and Rankins Springs believe that those factors make footy all … Continue reading SPOTLIGHT: EVERY ROUND IS MAGIC ROUND
by Tallon Smith Best Articles of 2022 #5 AFTER an extended period of recess, the Goodooga Magpies have completed a fairytale return to the Barwon Darling Rugby League competition with a nailbiting 27-26 triumph over undefeated local powerhouse Bourke Warriors. Goodooga, a town of just 247 people, struggled to overcome the Bourke Warriors juggernaut all year, but persistence and hard work paid off for the … Continue reading GOODOOGA SWOOP TO GRAND FINAL GLORY
by Tallon Smith (17/07/2022) Best Articles of 2022 #4 The Ivanhoe Roosters have stamped their passport to make a trip the size of a small country after qualifying for the Proten Community Cup Rugby League Grand Final in Barellan next weekend courtesy of a 28-10 victory over Hillston in the Preliminary Final at Henry Mathieson Oval in Narrandera. The Roosters started strong with tries to … Continue reading RABBITOHS, ROOSTERS CROW AT PROTEN CUP GRAND FINAL DELIGHT
by Tallon Smith (10/07/2022) Best Articles of 2022 #3 The Proten Community Cup (Group 17) Semi Finals, played today July 9, at the Sahara Oval, Ivanhoe, saw Narrandera decisively book their Grand Final spots in both the Men’s and Women’s 9s competitions. The competition, which featured on Battlers For Bush Footy’s SPOTLIGHT series just this week, opened its finals series with its Women’s Tackle 9’s, … Continue reading LIZARDS CRAWL TO DOUBLE GRAND FINAL APPEARANCE
by Tallon Smith (02/07/2022) Best Articles of 2022 #2 Hillston have come from the clouds, after being last on the table for most of the season, to scrape into the Proten Community Cup Rugby League top four with a win over a COVID-ravaged Rankins Springs. Hosting the final round of the modern incarnation of Group 17 for 2022, the Bluebirds held off a gallant Rankins … Continue reading BLUEBIRDS CHEER AT FINALS DELIGHT ALONGSIDE MINOR PREMIERS IVANHOE
Story of the Year By Tallon Smith Narrandera has emphatically announced they are a powerhouse of local rugby league once more after completing the ProTen Community Cup double by taking out both the Men’s and Women’s 9s titles on Saturday in Barellan. The Lizards, who just five years ago were thirteen years deep into recess, took out a thrilling contest 20-14 over Ivanhoe in the … Continue reading Narrandera seeing double after Lizards crawl to community cup championships
Pictured: Narrandera Lizards, 2022 ProTen Community Cup (Group 17) Premiers Welcome to our Website! Battlers For Bush Footy is an organisation dedicated to covering and promoting the true sport of regional New South Wales, rugby league! We aim to provide fans with country rugby league content, covering the stories that matter and providing a balanced view of the rugby league landscape across regional New South … Continue reading Welcome To Battlers For Bush Footy!
