GALLERY: Indigenous All Stars thump Group 10 in historic day for competition

THE first edition of the Group 10 All Stars match certainly delivered on the hype, with Will Ingram's Indigenous All Stars stunning the Group 10 All Stars 52-24 at Cowra's Sid Kallas Oval.

In total, 14 tries were scored throughout 80 minutes of pure entertainment on Saturday, including length of the field tries and crunching tackles, while missing Orange man and Blayney Bears halfback Terry Brown was remembered with a minutes silence on a historic afternoon for Group 10.

The match, though, was only part of the special pre-season occasion.

Young members of the Wiradjuri Nation proudly performed Indigenous smoke dancing prior to the match and then the public were given access to the field when the Indigenous All Stars performed their war cry - lead by Warren Williams and Will Ingram.

Winning skipper Will Ingram couldn't keep the smile off his face post-match and it wasn't just because his side won the contest.

"To put all the work in over the last couple of months especially the last few weeks and to see it come to fruition on the day the way it has it's a big reward. You don't do it for those reasons but it does make you smile a bit bigger when it comes off," Ingram said.

"It was great to show the pride we have. I like to think that I have my culture in myslef but to share it with the boys and for them to be a part of it was great."

Modified rules were introduced for the game and at times it did play havoc on the field.

Both teams were allowed two five minute powerplays - one each half - where the opposition were reduced to 10-men and weren't allowed to kick the ball in play, otherwise resulting in a turnover.

Also, try-scorers were required to convert their tries and the team that conceded then started with possession at the half-way line.

Three first half tries from Cody Robbins laid the platform for the Indigenous side's victory when they went into the break with a 26-point advantage leading 38-12.

But the Group 10 All Stars opened the scoring in the second term, first to Lithgow fullback Keelan Bresac and then Bathurst Panther Jake Betts, which reduced the deficit to 14 with 15 minutes to play.

With a poweplay up their sleeve, the Indigenous side crossed for three late tries - two in the last five minutes - courtesy of Cowra duo Desi Doolan and Aiden Craig and Blayney's Josh Rainbow who grabbed his second.

Group 10 All Stars coach Kurt Hancock said the first edition of the All Stars match in Group 10 was a success and conceded the Indigenous side was too good.

"The scoreline obviously blew out a bit but the powerplays and rule changes are designed for that to happen ... some of the tries scored from both sides were good and it was a pretty entertaining game of footy," Kurt Hancock said.

"The whole day in general has been outstanding. When we got together to discuss it, it was all about bringing people together and I think that's exactly what's happened today.

"Credit to the Indigenous boys they outplayed us. I think they really enjoyed playing for their culture, it meant alot to them," he said.

Lithgow enforcer and Indigenous All Star Jono Van Veen was recognised as the Terry Brown medallist for the day's best on ground, he was presented the award by Brown's close friend Sam Sweeting.

Terry Brown was due to play halfback for the Indigenous All Stars side but has been missing at Boomerang Beach, near Forster, on the state's mid-north coast since the Easter weekend.

Prior to the match everyone in attendance at Sid Kallas Oval witnessed a minutes silence as a token of respect.

Further individual awards were presented to Indigenous All Star and CYMS hooker Sam Hill, he was deemed his side's best and fairest while Keelan Bresac received the corresponding award for the Group 10 All Stars.

Following the presentations, Ingram indicated the event should become an essential part of the Group 10 calendar.

"I'd love to see it go ahead every year," Ingram said of the match.

"Especially as an opener to the season where you can get big crowds involved. All around the Group every year if it's hosted by say Oberon, Blayney, Lithgow, anyone really, it would just really reinforce the support of the rugby league community.

"I'd love to be playing with that bunch of blokes week in week out, enjoying my footy," Ingram added.

INDIGENOUS ALL STARS 52 (Cody Robbins 3, Jono Van Veen 2, Josh Rainbow 2, Desi Doolan 2, Aiden Craig tries; Robbins 2, Rainbow 2, Van Veen, Doolan goals) def GROUP 10 ALL STARS 24 (Jared Robinson, Douglas Faaiu, Keelan Bresac, Jake Betts tries; Robinson, Faaiu, Bresac, Betts goals).