By Jamie Parsons

After a hectic week in the Proten Community Cup, Ivanhoe came out the end of it with a win, to reach their third Proten Cup Grand Final, following on from 2022 and 2023 appearances.

In the women’s game, the Ivanhoe Hens played the preliminary final with home ground advantage for the first time, and it didn’t take long for it to take effect. 

After 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 controlled the game in the second half, 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 men’s side shaped up after they were given two days-notice for a preliminary final in Ivanhoe, after thinking their season was over the previous Saturday. 

With some players already facing 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. 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. 

A couple more niggling injuries left the Dragons with no replacements. Hooker Thomas Judd, backrower Harry Judd and lock Ben Maslin played full games in the middle, and usual bench hooker Jamie Parsons filled in for 45 minutes at prop. Despite the efforts, the Dragons didn’t have enough left in the tank to trouble the Roosters much 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) Rankins Springs 0

Men’s Preliminary Final

Ivanhoe 20 (Patty Miller, Phillip Hunter, Tyrone Johnson, Shaun Aylett tries; Tarelle Jones 2 goals) Rankins Springs 6 (Bart McIntyre try; Damian Walker goal)