Sport
1 August, 2025
Proten Cup Round Up
Barellan to play Ivanhoe in Men's and Women's Proten Cup deciders
ROOSTERS MAKE THIRD GRAND FINAL
After a hectic week in the Proten Community Cup, Ivanhoe have finally came out the end of it with a win to reach their third Proten Cup Grand Final, after 2022 & 2023.
In the women’s game the Ivanhoe Hens played a final with home ground advantage for the first time, and it didn’t take long for it to take effect. With rain on Friday night the Rankins Springs bus once again had to go the long way around to get to the Sahara Oval, with Mossgiel and Booligal roads closed. Ivanhoe had a full bench compared to the Dragonettes’ three reserves, and scored early after a Rankins Springs mistake off the kick-off. Fullback Aimee McGuckin scored two tries, including a long range one from a kick return. The Hens again controlled the game in the second half, eventually taking out the preliminary final 36-0, with last year’s player of the year Bobbi Goolagong also grabbing a double. Rankins Springs now bow out after another improved season, making the prelim final after being knocked out at the minor semi stage last year, and finishing last in 2023. Ivanhoe will now face their third straight Grand Final against the Barellan Rams.
The Rankins Springs Dragons shaped up after a week where they were given two days notice for a preliminary final in Ivanhoe, after thinking their season was over the previous Saturday. With some boys already with other commitments, the Dragons managed to get seventeen together including the great Raymond Lamont, and some brave boys backing up despite minor injuries. Despite missing key players Billy Vearing, Salesi Mahe and Billy Overall and losing Jason Cronin to a groin injury after five minutes, the Dragons put in one of their best halves of the season to keep the home side level at 6-all at halftime. Ivanhoe took a while to get into the game with several mistakes early in the wet weather.
Ivanhoe started much better in the second half and scored early through Phillip Hunter, and several strong runs by Shaun Aylett let to another try to Tyrone Johnson, with Aylett himself going over not long after to wrap up the game. With a couple more niggling injuries leaving the Dragons with no replacements left, and hooker Thomas Judd, backrower Harry Judd and lock Ben Maslin playing full games in the middle and usual bench hooker Jamie Parsons filling in for 45 minutes at prop, the Dragons didn’t have enough left in the tank to trouble the scorers in the second half.
All-in-all, a good preliminary final display by both teams after an adverse week. Ivanhoe will now face Barellan in the men’s Grand Final as well, in the first time two clubs have made both women’s and men’s grand finals since 2021 with Goolgowi and Rankins Springs.
FINAL SCORES
Women’s Preliminary Final
Ivanhoe 36 (Aimee McGuckin 2, Bobbi Goolagong 2, Amber Evans, Katrina Hunter, Natalie Johnson tries; Shailyn Williams 3, Natalie Johnson 1 goals) def Rankins Springs 0
Men’s Preliminary Final
Ivanhoe 20 (Patty Miller, Phillip Hunter, Tyrone Johnson, Shaun Aylett tries; Tarelle Jones 2 goals) def Rankins Springs 6 (Bart McIntyre try; Damian Walker goal)
GRAND FINAL PREVIEWS
After seven years of the Proten Cup the Grand Final has come full circle, with Hillston kicking off the second cycle, hosting for the second time after 2018. The women’s game will kick off at 1.30pm followed by their presentation, with the men’s game to follow at 3.00pm. Gates will open at 11.00am with the entry being $5 and cash only. The Hillston club will be having raffles, a jersey auction and a 100 club, along with a charity fundraiser for the Black Dog Institute that can be donated to online now, please check their facebook page.
Women’s Grand Final – Barellan v Ivanhoe, 1.30pm
Ivanhoe will be hoping third time’s the charm, getting another shot at the two-time Barellan Rams premiers. Despite going down 24-6 in the major semi, the Hens showed what they are capable of in both attack and defence last week. Both teams have about equal trips ahead of them, as long as the roads are open by Saturday. Although Barellan will start favourites, the result is far from certain if Ivanhoe can field the same squad they did last week. Best of luck to both teams and here’s hoping for another great women’s Grand Final.
Previous Grand Finals:
2021 – Goolgowi 20-6 Rankins Springs
2022 – Narrandera 16-0 Goolgowi
2023 – Barellan 16-14 Ivanhoe
2024 – Barellan 26-6 Ivanhoe
Men’s Grand Final – Barellan v Ivanhoe, 3.00pm
After a fantastic season by both teams, the odds are even here and it’s very hard to separate these two teams given the seasons they have had. They have met twice this season, with Ivanhoe taking the regular season game 22-12, while Barellan stole the Major Semi in the dying moments 18-16. Ivanhoe have many players who have been in a Grand Final before, making both the 2022 & 2023 deciders, while Barellan face their first big one since 2004. Looking at records going back 60-odd years, this is also the first Grand Final meeting between the two clubs, and is the first Proten Cup Grand Final to not feature either Rankins Springs or Narrandera. Both teams will be relying on their respective captains to lead them to glory, Barellan’s Noah Forbutt a consistent star of the competition, top tryscorer and pointscorer this year and together with co-coach Adam Thomas, has led the Rams from last in 2023 to a finals spot in 2024 and now a Grand Final this year, while Ivanhoe’s Ethan Harris has continued to improve since starting with the Roosters in 2019 to now being one of the most damaging ball runners in the competition and a big reason for Ivanhoe’s three Grand Final appearances. Best of luck to both teams in what is sure to be a classic match. Get down to Stan Peters Oval on Saturday for another fantastic day of rugby league!
Previous Grand Finals:
2018 – Rankins Springs 16-10 Goolgowi
2019 – Goolgowi 22-6 Narrandera
2021 – Rankins Springs 10-8 Goolgowi
2022 – Narrandera 20-14 Ivanhoe
2023 – Narrandera 20-14 Ivanhoe
2024 – Rankins Springs 20-18 Narrandera
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