Minor premiers players lead point score tallies

Barellan Rams players Noah Forbutt and Monique Higgins lead the pointscoring tallies in both the men's and women's competitions of the ProTen Community Cup.

On 42 points Higgins leads the competition, with runner up Shailyn Williams sitting on 28.

Sophie Kelsey and Sophie Taylor currently share the honour of the season's highest try scorers, with five apiece, followed closely by Williams on four.

In the men's competition Fobutt sits on 92 points, far ahead of contenders Damian Walker (58), Jakeem Morgan (44) and Henry Taylor (38).

Forbutt also leads the try scoring tally with 10 to his name for the season. Runner up Mesulame Navakayala has bagged six, and Billy Vearing and Ethan Harris have also scored six.

FINALS START THIS WEEKEND

The finals series kicks off on Saturday, hosted by Barellan Rams.

In the men's the Rams will meet Ivanhoe in the major semi final - earlier in the year the Rams accounted for Ivanhoe 22 to 12, but Ivanhoe have a lot of finals experience under their belts.

Rankins Springs and Narrandera will meet in the minor semi, with Rakins Springs hoping to improve on the 40-point toweling at the hands of Narrandera last week.

In the women's Rankins Springs and Hillston will meet in the first final, after Goolgowi bowed out of the semis, due to lack of players.

Barellan and Ivanhoe will contest the major semi, with either side capable of grinding out the win.

Barellan Sportsground gates open at 10.30am, with games from noon.

RAMS WIN FIRST EVER PROTEN CUP MINOR PREMIERSHIP by Jamie Parsons

The Barellan Rams secured two minor premierships on Saturday as they put their mark on their best season to date.

Only Goolgowi in 2021 has won both women’s and men’s minor premierships before, and for the Ram’s men’s side, it is their best finish since the start of the ProTen Cup.

Match results - Women’s Games

Hillston started the better in their clash with Ivanhoe with a runaway 80 metre try to Mel Nilsen. They kept pace with Ivanhoe until the half, but the Hens strength won out in the end, coming home with three tries in the second half to win 18-4.

Barellan already had the minor premiership wrapped up but sure wanted that undefeated record to stay intact. Rankins Springs kept them out early but later three tries to strong runner Lina Smith had them up 18-0 at the break. The Dragonettes fought back in the second half and kept the Rams scoreless for a time, but two tries in the last three minutes blew the score out a bit to 30-0.

Ivanhoe 18 (Rachael Burns, Aimee McGuckin, Hannah Whyman, Natalie Johnson tries; Rachael Burns goal) Hillston 4 (Mel Nilsen try)

Barellan 30 (Lina Smith 3, Sophie Taylor 2 tries; Monique Higgins 5 goals) Rankins Springs 0

Match results - Men’s Games

Ivanhoe needed a big win to secure a top 2 finish and a home final, Hillston needed a win just to stay alive. The Roosters started the better and dominated field position but Hillston kept in the hunt with a try to Lachie Brill. An Ivanhoe send-off at halftime kept Hillston in the game, but the 12-men Roosters got over the top in the end, winning 26-10.

Deniliquin needed some fill-ins to make a side for their last game, with the season taking a toll on their players. Barellan took a while to get going, but shifted gears quickly once they got their first try. After a 24-0 halftime lead, the game was over before fulltime when the Rams reached 60, with Noah Forbutt scoring three tries and nine goals, with 50-gamer Reece Wilson kicking the last one.

Rankins Springs had to win by more than 18 to get back into second spot, and started the worst way possible with Narrandera jumping out to a 20-0 lead after bashing the Dragons forwards early. Dominating possession the Lizards only let in one try in the first half, up 26-6. In the second half two intercept tries against the run of play put the result beyond doubt, before the Dragons fought for pride on their home turf and got back into it, scoring three tries late to make the score 42-22.

Ivanhoe 26 (Ethan Harris, Phillip Hunter, Thomas Lee, Tarelle Jones, Shaun Aylett tries; Tarelle Jones 3 goals) Hillston 10 (Steven Awali, Lachie Brill tries; Brayden Davis goal)

Barellan 60 (Noah Forbutt 3, Darcy Payne 2, Fred Herrmann, Tom Bartter, Neil Halden, John Dietrich, Fred Baker tries; Noah Forbutt 9, Reece Wilson 1 goals) Deniliquin 0

Narrandera 42 (Caleb Atkinson 2, Jakeem Morgan, Bodean Tereva, Bernie Simpson, Malek Afuamua, Brayden Stewart, Jack Cooper tries; Jakeem Morgan 5 goals) Rankins Springs 22 (Jason Cronin, Jack Glyde, Tom Power, Billy Overall tries; Damian Walker 3 goals)