The Narrandera Lizards scored a 24-18 win over the Ivanhoe Roosters in a Proten Cup grand final rematch at the Narrandera Sportsground on Saturday.

The Roosters got out to a 12-0 lead but the Lizards retaliated through Geoff Johnson and skipper Campbell Lyons to level the game at 12-all.

After half time highly rated local prospect Campbell Lyons crossed to complete his double, briefly giving Narrandera a six-point advantage before Moe Clune scored to put the Roosters back on level terms.

With the game locked up at 18-all and time running out Narrandera’s Jamain Morgan scored the match winning try, leading to a tense final few minutes to see Narrandera claim a 24-18 victory and remain unbeaten in 2023.

Narrandera Coach Kye Longford said that the hard-fought victory over their Grand Final rivals showed his side was “continually improving” in the run into the finals.

He heaped praise was on the way they handled the situation stating that there was always extra effort when playing against an NRL player.

Longford also praised the community for their support of the event, especially the local Indigenous community – the match was played during NAIDOC Week, with the official celebrations starting on that day, Narrandera Assistant Coach D’Andre Williams said that his side put in a “strong effort” to close out the game and take the victory.

There was no better feeling than winning at home, he said.

Ivanhoe’s loss left them in fourth place, two points clear of Rankins Springs as they take on last-placed Barellan in the final round.

Former NRL star Joel Thompson said that despite his side’s loss on Saturday he believed that the competition is “great for the community” in both Ivanhoe and the entire district.

While the Lizards won the men’s clash, in the women’s clash the visitors scored two points with a hard-fought 14-8 victory.

The four-point swing on the competition table sees Ivanhoe now holding an unassailable four point lead over the Lizards for second place and the all-important chance at the finals.

This week at Goolgowi Rankins Springs meet Hillston, Barellan take on Ivanhoe and Goolgowi host Narrandera.

Ladder: Narrandera 10, Goolgowi 6, Hillston 6, Ivanhoe 4, Rankins Springs 2, Barella 0.

Results: NARRANDERA 24 (Campbell Lyons 2, Jamain Morgan, Geoff Johnson tries, Gary Ingram 4 goals)d IVANHOE 18 (Lochyer Brennan, Patrick Littke, Moe Clune tries, Ethan Harris 3 goals)

RANKINS SPRINGS 21 (Codey Parsons 2, Henry Taylor 2 tries, Damian Walker 2 goals, and field goal) d BARELLAN 20 (Blake Jamieson 2, Travis Hams, Manase Panove tries, Noah Forbutt 2 goals) Top Tryscorers Jakeem Morgan – 6 Caleb Atkinson – 5 Stanley Hermmann – 5 Lachlan Lyons – 4 Henry Taylor – 4 Jermaine Dixon – 4 Top Pointscorers Henry Taylor – 34 Luke Farmer – 30 Jakeem Morgan – 30 Noah Forbutt – 22 Gary Ingram – 22

Women’s results

IVANHOE 14 (Niumai Serukabai- vata 2, Rachel Burn tries, and goal d NARRANDERA 8 (Alina Hands, Olivia Light-Wate tries)

BARELLAN 38 (Brittany Everett 2, Olivia Whelan 2, Tara Arnall, Taisch Wilkinson, Monique Higgins tries, and 5 goals)d RANKINS SPRINGS 0 GOOLGOWI 26 (Rachel Clowes, Adelle Byrne, Nina Saula, Lavinia Siale, Sophia Kelsey tries, and 3 goals) d HILLSTON 8 (Amber Clarke-Baldock, Adela Neal tries).

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 6 July 2023.