BY JAMIE PARSONS 

Ivanhoe Roosters hosted round one of the 2025 ProTen Season on Saturday. The Ivanhoe side took the opportunity to hold their Indigenous Round with Welcome to Country performed by Sharon Kennedy, a smoking ceremony and limited-edition playing kit.

The distinctive jerseys worn by the Roosters and Hens were designed by Carolyn Williams, and auctioned off after the game.

For the second year in a row heavy rain in the days prior to kick off forced many buses to detour through Hay and up the Cobb Highway, with Mossgiel and Booligal roads closed. Round one proved to be largely uneven with some big scores including the biggest margin in the men’s competition so far.

Women’s games 

Barellan started the season fast, in what has become a tradition for them, with a 46-4 win over Hillston.

The Bluebirds numbers have been tremendous in the pre-season which is a vast improvement from 2024, when they were often short. Barellan started quickly, with three tries early, before Hillston pegged one back.

The second half was all the Rams. Sophia Kelsey, Sophie Taylor and Tommi Booth all scored doubles, as the Rams go to top of the table again.

The home side Ivanhoe Hens made a good account of themselves, with a 34-10 win over Goolgowi, despite several Barellan girls backing up for the short Goolgowi side.

Ivanhoe started well, managing to keep Goolgowi out early, until confusion over the two-in-the-tackle rule led to Aleeysha Munday scoring for the Rabbitohs.

Ivanhoe dominated the rest of the game with Falesiu Chauncy-Moli scoring two tries, and Shailyn Williams posting 18 points from two tries and five goals.

Men’s games

Deniliquin will face many big road trips for their first season in ProTen, but round one had many clubs facing the same thing. Hillston managed the trip a lot better than the new boys, with three tries scored early, before each side had one player each sent off after a melee.

Hillston managed being a man down best with a full bench, while Deni only had two interchange players, and a couple of Narrandera boys filling in.

Goolgowi’s Henry Taylor backed up for the Bluebirds and ran riot in the second half scoring four tries, while fullback Jed Webster kicked nine goals.

Narrandera came into round one over a bit short with some Deni boys returning the favour, and filling in on the bench. Barellan looked good early on, but could not capitalise despite one try to captain Noah Forbutt.

Jamaine Jones went through the middle to bring Narrandera level, before quick hands through the backs had Jahrel Tereva over in the corner for the Lizards to take the lead.

A break from a kick return by Fred Herrmann put Forbutt over again for the Rams to lead at the break. Their run continued and Barellan ran over the top of an injury-decimated Narrandera to win 28-10.

The Ivanhoe and Goolgowi late game took a while to get going, with strong defence dominating the early exchanges, until Ethan Harris managed to get over in the corner.

Phillip Hunter scored on the other sideline soon after, for the Roosters to go in 8-0 at the break. The second half was a similar story - despite poor discipline from Ivanhoe giving Goolgowi numerous penalties on the tryline, the Ivanhoe defence held strong.

Two more tries late in the half gave the home side a 16-0 win.

Full Results

Women’s

Barellan 46 (Tommi Booth 2, Sophia Kelsey 2, Sophie Taylor 2, Natasha Ambrose, Monique Higgins tries; Monique Higgins 7 goals) defeated Hillston 4 (Lakisha Kennedy try).

Ivanhoe 34 (Falesiu Chauncy-Moli 2, Shailyn Williams 2, Aimee McGuckin, Rachael Burns tries; Shailyn Williams 5 goals) defeated Goolgowi 10 (Aleeysha Munday, Sophia Kelsey tries; Mackenzie Dowell goal).

Men’s

Hillston 62 (Henry Taylor 4, Ratu Ketewai, Tale Delai, Tommy Brettschneider, Akariva Tawake, Jardin Morcome, Josh Cahill, Larry Goolagong Sloane tries; Jed Webster 9 goals) defeated Deniliquin 0.

Barellan 28 (Noah Forbutt 2, Gary Braddick 2, Rodney Gibbs tries; Noah Forbutt 4 goals) defeated Narrandera 10 (Jahrel Tereva, Jamaine Jones tries; Jamaine Jones goal).

Ivanhoe 16 (Ethan Harris, Phillip Hunter, Jake Whyman, Tyrone Johnston tries) defeated Goolgowi 0.

The ProTen competition head back to Barellan for Round 2 of the 2025 season, for the second time in three weeks, after the Rams hosted the annual pre-season knockout was held there recently.

In round two, Rankins Springs will have their first run of the year against the home side, while Hillston will have the bye.

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