Sport
13 April, 2024
Gular gallant at Warren Gala Day
The Gulargambone Men’s rugby union team headed to Warren on Saturday, April 7.
The Gulargambone Men’s rugby union team headed to Warren on Saturday, April 7 to partake in Warren’s inaugural Rugby Gala Day. The men’s team was pooled in a group with current Western Plains premiers Warren, Dubbo Roos’ number two team as well as Gular’s old foe Coonamble Rams. Gular took a squad of 20 players over and for many of them, it was their first hit out at rugby.
The back line was made of a new fab boy’s band that Gular Rugby is now calling B-FAB (Baby-Faced Assassin Backline) which was made up of Aiden Walker, Zac Ferguson, Darcy Neeves, Stu Larson, Bailey Wykes, Jake Peart, and Elten Walker. Young in age and many not having played the game at all or not at this adult level were well led around by half-back and lead singer Archie Haling and the veteran band manager we will call Colonel Parker (aka Nathan “I feel so old. I am 25.” Harland).
The B-FAB did not take a backward step all day and it is exciting times as to what this backline can turn into in the coming season and years ahead. What the team lacked in experience in the backs was well made up for in the forwards. The team was well led by Michael Roche, Will Bowman, Nick Ryan, Jack Bradley, Lachie Ferguson, Zac Mills, Jimmy Kilday, Jayden Fardell, and new teen sensation Isaac “The Axe” Grimshaw.
All the forwards were solid in attack and defence and clearly dominated all the lineouts on the day. Gular’s first pool game was against Dubbo Roos number two team and the lads gave a good account of themselves going down only 10-0 to a much more fancied team from a city of 70,000 people. Gular had a half-hour break and then they were up against last year’s Western Plain Premiers.
This was easily the lad’s best game, and they stuck it to the premiers in the first half to lead them five-nil. Some unlucky calls and interpretations saw the Warren team strike back with two tries in the second half and Warren won the game 10-5 but Gular won a lot of admirers for their effort and gutsy performance. Gular’s final pool game came up against their arch-rivals Coonamble and in any good rivalry, not an inch was given.
Gular had much the better of the play for the game through the forwards and the B-FAB came into their own causing troubles for the Coonamble backline. It was a scoreless match. Gular finished third in their pool and went on to play the Narromine Gorillas in the third-placed final at 3 pm. The lad’s fatigue was setting in after an hour and a half of waiting time for the final and the much more experienced Narromine Gorillas team won the final 12-0.
Gular came away from the day with their heads held high. The effort and confidence in the squad are indicative of the numbers and enthusiasm that have been shown at training in the past few weeks. One of the Western Plain committee members commented that the Gular team looked like a young, fit and committed team.
The men’s team has had a few lean years but there is a sense of change coming with the young players that have joined the squad and with the experience of some of the older players it is a very exciting blend of better days to come hopefully. A big thank you to coach Gus Beveridge and fitness coach Greg King for running the team.
Also, a big thank you to the loyal bunch of supporters who made their way over for the day. It was much appreciated. The Flamin’ Galahs are back in action this Saturday, April 14 with a trial against their arch foes Walgett Ewes at Coonamble. Should be interesting after last year’s grand final.
