The NSW Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Origin team had a sellout crowd at Newcastle Entertainment Centre for the second round of the PBR Origin Series.
NSW had plenty of local talent bolstering its ranks with PBR mainstay Lachlan Richardson from Gresford, Jono Couling from Singleton, Josh Grant from Windella, Thomas Hudson from Dungog and Clint Glass from Willow Tree.
The Blues and the Maroons were evenly matched with NSW taking the lead in the first round. However, Queensland turned the tables in the second surging ahead and in the end the results came down to the final two bulls.
Glass from Willow Tree needed 70 points to secure NSW the victory, but he was unable to ride out the eight seconds.
Team Queensland finished with 583.50 points, while NSW trailed just behind with 510 points.
Richardson from Gresford has been touring with the PBR for over a decade. He captained Team NSW and rode two of his three bulls in Origin II.
He rode Turbo for 86 points and End Game for 85.75 points.
Richardson remains optimistic and expressed the team’s determination to conclude the series with a victory in Cairns as they did last year.
“You never want to go down with a loss, but there’s so much we take out of that,” said Richardson.
“I’m very proud. There’s always stuff to work on, even when you stay on, so we’ll go back, regroup and have more fun than anyone else.
“We’ve got to do our job, and love what we do and just keep doing what we’re doing.”
Couling’s bulls all got the better of him and Glass got two of his three scoring 85 and 84.25 respectively.
The final round of the PBR Origin Series will take place in Cairns on July 13.
