A win 22 years in the making has been celebrated in the 2025 Proten Cup grand final.

Barellan’s men’s side has finally repeated their women’s side’s grand final success, winning the premiership against Ivanhoe, 22-20, in Hillston on Saturday.

It is the Rams first men’s premiership since 2003, in the old Group 17.

Barellan started the day off with a third straight premiership to their women’s side, defeating the Ivanhoe Hens for the third time in a grand final.

The Hens who started the game the better, kicking an early penalty for a 2-0 lead.

Despite repeated attacks on the Rams line, they weren’t able to convert them into points and Barellan hit back with a try off a grubber kick to Amie Fazekas.

Sophie Taylor grabbed another one before half-time and the Rams were firmly in control again.

It was all one way traffic in the second half with three tries to Sophia Kelsey, Barellan retaining the Proten Cup for another year.

The Barellan men side started their game the way the girls’ finished, dominating early exchanges with Ivanhoe.

Luke Farmer went over from close range with a show-and-go.

Second-rower Gary Braddick ran through a gap to score the Rams’ second not long after, and a disallowed try to Ivanhoe’s Shaun Aylett saw Barellan co-coach Adam Thomas score out wide for the Rams to put them 16-0 up at half-time.

The Rams got to 22-0 ahead before Ivanhoe finally got one back with a try in the corner to Jake Whyman midway through the second half.

Another to five-eighth Jermaine Dixon had them back in striking distance.

With eight minuted to play, Barellan remains on 22 while Ivanhoe clawed their way to 14 points.

Within the last minute of play Ivanhoe had three penalties within Barellan’s half but elected to tap the ball each time.

A last ditch grubber kick almost paid off, but they were unable to ground the ball and Barellan came away victors 22-20 in a thrilling game very worthy of a grand final.

The deciders brought to an end a season which saw the Deniliquin Blue Heelers reform and field their first team in decades.

While the Heelers showed a lot of heart, they did not make finals after a challenging year.

• Match reports contributed by Jamie Parsons, Proten Cup.

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Wednesday, 21st June 2023

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