Story by: Stewart Wilson

Whoever once said that history never repeats was dead wrong. British historian and biographer Philip Guedalla got it right in 1920 when he noted that history does indeed repeat and the Bungendore Mudchooks rugby team proved it when they defeated the Crookwell Dogs by a single point at home at the Sports Hub on 24 May.

Weeks before, Bungendore played Crookwell away, snatching victory by one in the last couple of minutes thanks to a goal by halfback Tom Worman. This time, Tom kicked a penalty goal in what was the last play of the game to once again give the Mudchooks the  win, under considerable pressure and not helped by the gusty crosswind blowing at the time. Deja Vu all over again!

Apart from the win, it was a big occasion for the Mudchooks on 24 May. The club hosted its annual Sponsors’ Day where the businesses and individuals who support the Mudchooks and Mudchicks are thanked for their dedication to the teams.

Special jerseys were worn by the teams and then auctioned off at the close of play. On the field it was a successful day for both, the Chicks comfortably defeating the Yass Ewes.

There were also a couple of other special occasions to mark: James ‘Butters’ Pryde notched up his 250th game for the club, a remarkable statistic spread over 16 previous seasons plus this one.

The team is now permanently based at the new Bungendore Sports Hub and the field on which it plays was formally named in honour of Mudchooks founding member and past president Garry Cook, the ceremony presided over by mayor Kenrick Winchester.

Apart from his involvement with the Mudchooks – which continues – Garry has made a massive contribution to the Bungendore community over the years through Rotary, the Bendigo Bank and numerous other organisations. He is a former Citizen of the Year and this was a thoroughly deserved honour.

But back to the game of rugby. It was a tough and tight one with lots of to-ing and fro-ing and in the first half especially neither team really seriously threatened to score for most of it.

Penalties were being freely given against both teams resulting in a there being little flow to the game. It remained nil-all until well into the first 40 minutes before Mudchooks captain Cameron Faddy scored following a sustained raid on Crookwell’s line.

So 5-0 at half time and it was the second half that provided the drama. The Mudchooks increased their lead through a converted try to David Cox but the Dogs struck back similarly to make it 12-7 then another try and 12-all.

Mudchooks centre Maloni Tubekitu scored to put his team up 17-12 but a couple of minutes from the end Crookwell went over again and the conversion made it 19-17 in their favour.

The raucous Crookwell supporters started celebrating what they assumed was going to be a win, but we all know the saying “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings” (credited to American sports writer Dan Cook) or to confirm the analogy Cook was using: “until the referee blows his final whistle.”

With literally seconds remaining the Mudchooks were awarded a penalty, within kicking range but difficult nevertheless due to the wind, not to mention the pressure.

As cool as the proverbial cucumber, Tom Worman stepped up and put it over the back dot to make it 20-19. The fat lady then began to sing…..

Still undefeated this season, the Mudchooks remain on top of the table. The team now has two weeks off due to a bye and the June long weekend. Their next game is against Cooma at home at the Sports Hub on Saturday, 14 June.

Player awards and their sponsors for the Crookwell game were:
Best and Fairest: Royal Hotel – Tom Worman (3 points), Scott Geronimi (2 points), Gerhardus Pretorius (1 point).
Players’ Player: Mint Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Tom Worman.
Coach’s Player: Bungendore Community Bank – Tom Worman.
Chicks’ Pick: NV Panel and Paint – James Pryde.

Story by Stewart Wilson

The Bungendore Mudchooks rugby team has continued its unbeaten run in 2025 with another high-scoring win, this time a 57-8 victory against the Cooma Alpine Seniors at Cooma on 17 May to keep them on the top of the table.

Until this game, Cooma had also been undefeated so far and were in second place behind the Mudchooks. Considering that, it was perhaps a little surprising that the Mudchooks won so convincingly – most were expecting a much closer tussle.

The Mudchooks led 19-8 at half time and were starting to assert their dominance. They fully displayed their true form in the second half by keeping Cooma scoreless and piling on 38 points of their own.

Cooma actually scored first early in the first half with a try followed by a penalty goal a bit later, but that was their only joy. By then the Chooks had already started to control the game and had taken the lead.

They scored three tries in the first half courtesy centre Gerhardus ‘Geeps’ Pretorius, lock Scott Geronimi and winger Jone Waqa. Halfback Tom Worman kicked two conversions.

Once they got going, the Mudchooks looked very good with all the players – both forwards and backs – working together well. As has been the case in several games this year, some of the backline moves were beautiful to watch running rugby.

The Mudchooks’ six second half tries were scored by centre Maloni Tubekitu and number eight Viliame Taleca (each with a double) and forwards Aiden Shand and Mark Norton. Tom Worman put over four more conversions while Viliame was given the job of attempting to convert the last try just near the end – nearly, but not quite!

The Mudchooks have scored more than 50 points in four games out of five so far this year including one over 60 and two over 70. Impressive statistics which bode well for the rest of the season, but this is sport and nothing can be taken for granted. There is always work to do, improvements to be made.

But so far, so good.    

Next up for the Mudchooks is the Crookwell Dogs at home this Saturday, 24 May, at the Bungendore Sports Hub starting at 2.30pm. Be there to cheer to cheer them on at the club’s annual Sponsors’ Day! A three weeks gap between games follows due to a bye on 31 May and the June long weekend after that when the Provincial Championships are played. Then it’s Cooma again on 14 June, this time at home.

Player awards and their sponsors for the Cooma game were:

Best and Fairest: Royal Hotel – Scott Geronimi (3 points), Gerhardus Pretorius (2 points), Aiden Shand (1 point).

Players’ Player: Mint Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Aiden Shand.

Coach’s Player: Bungendore Community Bank – Ethan Kruger. Chicks’ Pick: NV Panel and Paint – Maloni Tubekitu.

Story by Stewart Wilson

The Bungendore RUFC had a very good day on Saturday with both the
Mudchooks and Mudchicks winning and moving to be within touching
distant of making their grand finals – one more win by either team
will see them in the biggest games of their year.

The Mudchooks were hosted by the Hall Bushrangers in the qualifying
final and came away with a hard-fought 45-29 victory. It was the
Chooks’ fourth win on the trot, the team playing well with things
starting to come together nicely as we reach the business end of the
season.

The Chooks scored six tries including a treble to number 8 Vili Taleca
and indiviual scores to prop Joe Nagaunu, centre Uraia Rabici and
winger Luke Gorman. There has been a palpable sense of the team
‘gelling’ as they should in the last few games. They led 21-10 at
half time.

But the Bushrangers didn’t lie down and scored five tries of their
own and got within a handful of points midway through the second half.
Two tries in the last quarter of the game sealed it for the Chooks.

A big difference between the two sides was their goal kicking in very
windy and difficult conditions. Chooks halfback Tom Worman slotted
seven out of eight including converting all the tries plus a penalty
goal. He judged the wind perfectly from difficult angles “to let it
do the work” as someone noted after the game.

Everyone put in and worked together well. The scrum was dominant as it
has been all season and the backs created some slick moves. Uraia
Rabici’s try in the second half resulted from a beautiful backline
move which was a joy to watch.

The Chooks play the Yass Rams next weekend in the preliminary final,
the winner going into the grand final.

But an unusual and unlucky problem has emerged from the Chooks’ win
over Hall. It earned them the right to play Yass at home at the Mick
Sherd Oval but the date clashes with the Bungendore Tigers’ rugby
league grand final, so an alternative venue needed to be found.

At the time of writing this hadn’t yet been sorted  – we’ll update
you as soon as we know!

Go the Chookies and Chickies!