NYNGAN's Bogan Bulls have kicked off their Western Plains 2023 season with an unexpected 13-7 win against the Warren Pumas to win the annual Bomber Moxham/Barry Beach Cup. 

It was a home game for the Bulls and a good crowd turned out to see the annual Nyngan-Warren tussle for the Cup named in honour of two rugby stalwarts – Bogan Bull, Bomber Moxham and Warren Puma, Barry Beach. 

There was some doubt the Bulls would field a team for this year’s rugby union season, but the executive had worked hard over the past couple of months to pull a combination of new recruits and old hands together. 

Bulls coach Bubba Perry was delighted with the first-round win against last year’s finalists but admitted it was a surprise. 

ABOVE: Bulls stalwart Tom Cleaver with coach Bubba Perry 

“I went to bed Friday accepting that Warren might put a cricket score on us due to minimal preparation and a few players going up a couple of belt sizes over the off-season but once that whistle went everyone played with enthusiasm and passion so that in the wet conditions Warren found it hard to match,” he said.  

It was a similar story across the rest of the Western Plains, with rain-affected games on the menu wherever you went. Reigning premiers Walgett went away to Cobar and got their season off to a flier, defeating them 29-22; Bourke dominated an undermanned Gulargambone 50-0 at home; and in the Womens the Bourke Ewes defeated Gular 20-5 and Walgett defeated Cobar 90-5.   

The first round of the competition was dubbed "Mental Health" round. Western Plains Rugby Union partnered with the referees to raise awareness of mental health and inclusivity. 

The Bogan Bulls kicked off the their first round by offering free entry for all to Larkin Oval. 

ABOVE: Bogan Bulls Captain Brett Moody with Angus Currans after the game