The Bungendore Sports Hub was alive with the spirit of rugby union today as the Monaro representative squads faced off against the Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) teams in the 2025 Brumbies Provincial Championships. Despite challenging conditions and fierce opponents, both Monaro men’s and women’s teams displayed resilience and determination up against very physical and large packs.
PHOTO: Cooma’s Emily Quodling dives over to score, as Brianna Rankin (18) is elated for her Devils’ Angels playing partner CREDIT: Bar TV
In the day’s opening match, the Monaro women faced a physical and fast running SIRU side. The Southern Inland women made an early impression with a try just 10 minutes in, thanks to a robust effort from Wagga Agricultural College’s Ellie Burnett. The match continued in SIRU’s favour as they capitalised on a strong scrum to score again in the 26th minute. Another try followed shortly before half-time, courtesy of Kara Yelland, extending the lead to 19-0 at the break.
PHOTO: Proudly representing the Monaro, the CRUFC Devils’ Angels women CREDIT: Brianna Rankin
Despite facing a daunting scoreline, the Monaro women showed admirable tenacity. They remained competitive throughout the second half, and their perseverance was rewarded when Cooma Devils’ Angels winger Emily Quodling crossed in the corner, scoring Monaro’s only try. Quodling shared what the moment meant to her, saying, “It was a great feeling to end the game with a Monaro try, after a challenging game, we were able to showcase our back line.” After 80 minutes of action, the game finished with the SIRU women victorious 24-5.
Cooma Rugby Union Football Club’s (CRUFC) Brianna Rankin said shortly after the match, “It was a crazy feeling playing at a higher level. It was a different type of pleasure to put the Monaro colours on and run out in them.”
“The game was very tough from the beginning and the rain didn’t help. We kept muscling up though, and had to play 13 on 15 for a while, so we had to lift our work rate as well. It was a huge effort in defence for us, we never gave up.”
Quodling shared further the achievement of the Monaro women, highlighting the limited preparation time. “Despite having just one run together before hand, we managed to mix it with SIRU with a lot of our women playing 15-a-side rugby for the first time.”
PHOTO: The Monaro women defending their line over and over CREDIT: Bar TV
The Monaro men’s team took to the field next, hoping to turn the tide against a powerful SIRU squad. SIRU’s weight advantage in the scrum and swift ball movement saw them hit the score board early, with rampaging break-away loose forward, Eparama Tuvunivono from the Wagga Waratahs running in the first try. Tom Murphy extended the lead further, and as the flood gates opened, SIRU had scored 50 points at half time.
PHOTO: The massive and mobile Eparama Tuvunivono makes a 30m bust at rapid speed before putting a team mate away with the deft touch of a playmaker CREDIT: Bar TV
The Monaro men refused to concede without a fight though, and in the second half, they found their rhythm, with Cooma’s Damien Roach igniting a spirited attack after a strong run up the middle. The momentum allowed Bungendore Mudchook, David Cox to score twice in five minutes, showcasing a great piece of individual excellence as he reached out for his second. Despite Cox’s heroics in the corner, SIRU’s size dominance proved too much, as they added a further three tries to finalise a 72-10 victory.
PHOTO: Bungendore’s David Cox reaches out full length to score his second CREDIT: Bar TV
Expressing pride in the Monaro jersey, Jindabyne Rugby Union Club’s (JRUC) Billy Small said, “With players from all around the competition who you play against week in week out, the Monaro jersey is always fun to pull on, and be a part of.”
“SIRU is always a big mobile pack and definitely showed us a level of footy we have to play at to compete in this championships. At half time we just spoke about how we could rise to their level. We knew we had to work for 40 minutes, and it was a much improved effort in the second half.”
“I’ll definitely take plenty back to club level, more in the training aspect of things, but also a different side of football to look at as well.”
PHOTO: SIRU spreads the ball quickly as Cooma’s Jake Quodling (left) desperately tries to close the gap and cover CREDIT: Bar TV
Each of the Monaro players, who, despite the losses, represented their region with a never-give-up attitude. The CRUFC were represented by Red Devils Connor Campbell, Nico Maclean, Jake Quodling, Damien Roach, and Devonik Saumalu. While captain of the Bushpigs Billy Small from JRUC, featured for the men.
PHOTO: Proudly representing the Monaro, the CRUFC Red Devils senior men CREDIT: Tania Quodling
Selected for CRUFC in the women’s sqaud from the Devils’ Angels was Sophie Caldwell, Paige Jardine, Emily Quodling, Brianna Rankin, and Natasha Kelly. JRUC had two selections from their Miss Piggies side in Leanne Saare and Berni Lai.
Reflecting on the occasion, CRUFC President Marcus Caldwell shared his sentiments via social media, “It was a great result for Cooma Rugby Union Football Club to have 10 players named in the representative teams. We are proud of their efforts today and wish them continued success.”
“We also had our women’s assistant coach Jamie Watkins appointed as the Monaro women’s assistant coach.”