Sport
16 May, 2025
Galahs go down against Pumas
Under the lights of Victoria Park at Warren last Friday night (May 9), the Gular men took the field against the always dangerous Warren Pumas.
By The Pink Parrot
With a squad of 22 and ideal conditions, cool weather and barely a hint of dew. Coach Harvey and captain Jack set the tone early: start strong, or risk playing catch-up.
And to their credit, the boys listened.
Gular opened with intensity, showing grit and discipline in defence. Warren were denied at the line multiple times thanks to some big stops, especially from Lochy Ferguson, who came up with several clutch, try-saving tackles.
But after 30 minutes of almost non-stop defending, cracks began to show, mostly due to some costly errors in Gular’s attacking phases. Warren found space on the edges and took a 12-0 lead into half-time.
The half-time message was simple: the defence was impressive, but points only come by building phases and holding onto the ball. In the second half, Gular struggled to settle into a rhythm. Inconsistent scrums and misfiring lineouts meant they spent much of the half pinned in their own territory.
Jake Peart stepped up with solid edge defence, frustrating Warren’s backline and keeping the margin in check.
Fly-half Zac Mills tried to kick for space, but Warren’s counter-attack proved slippery and effective. Dylan Ryan continued to be a workhorse, constantly offering himself as a runner into the teeth of Warren’s defence.
Blake Duff added impact with some hard, straight carries, while wingers Elten Walker and Darcy Neeves turned defence into attack with sharp kick returns.
Then came the chaos. About midway through the second half, the game turned into something out of a war zone as injuries piled up and coach Harvey was forced to empty the bench in a matter of minutes.
With players out of position and systems stretched, Gular lost their shape but not their heart.
Despite the disruption, they didn’t stop working, Steve Owens in particular kept attacking the breakdown, slowing Warren’s cleanouts and winning vital contests on the ground. But the Puma’s were too polished, slipping through for three more tries before the final whistle.
The match ended in a 33-0 scoreline in Warren’s favour, but the result doesn’t reflect the heart and defensive grit shown by Gular across both halves.
Coach Harvey praised the side’s effort, especially their defensive effort and willingness to keep fighting despite adversity.
With ladies day coming up and a big clash against Coonamble on the horizon, the focus shifts to fine-tuning the set piece and capitalising on attacking chances.
Player points: Lochy Ferguson (three points), Jake Peart (two points), Steve Owens (one point) and players’ player Jake Peart.
