04/06/2026
WITH local rugby in the South West having a bye weekend, three Busselton Beetles players made the long trip to Mandurah to link up with the Bunbury Bulls, in what is the beginning of more exchanges between local and Perth teams.
Bodhi Robson and Brooklyn Marler put in strong shifts in the front row, taking on the physical work up front and providing a solid platform all day.
Hyrum Jenkins slotted in at lock before moving to his preferred position in the midfield, proving a valuable asset to the Bulls' fast backs by tackling, jackling, and combining well in the backline.
The U11s match came first, with Mandurah showing why they are regarded as one of the stronger sides in their local competition.
It was a hard-fought contest from start to finish, with little separating the sides, but the Bulls dug deep and edged it in a tight one, 14–10.
The U11/12s group then played a game of three halves against the Mandurah side due to the large numbers involved.
Mandurah fielded strong numbers in the U12s, with 25 players, while the Bulls had 23—including the three Beetles boys.
The Bulls came away more comfortably in the U12s, putting together some strong passages of play to take control of the game, with Hyrum among the try scorers, crossing for three tries as part of a strong team performance.
The players thoroughly enjoyed the day, despite the big drive there and back, and it was a valuable experience playing against strong opposition and combining with the Bulls, with plenty of new friendships made.
There was a very happy but tired trio of Beetles on the long trip home.
