Played in less than balmy conditions with an arctic wind sweeping across the field, the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League grand finals played at Coolah’s Bowen Oval none-the-less attracted a great crowd that soon warmed to the on-field action on Saturday, August 30.

Kicking off the day was the reserve grade game played between the Binnaway Bombshells and the Baradine Magpies which saw the Bombies ahead 10-0 at half time and then going on with the job in the second half to come away with an 18 to 6 win and the Premiership Shield leaving the Magpies lamenting what was their worst performance for the season.

The league tag grand final turned out to be an absolute nail biter between the Coolah Flyers and the Dunedoo Swannettes with the winner of the very high standard and thrilling game literally not known until the final second of the enthralling encounter!

The Flyers held a 12 to 8 lead at the break after both sides had scored two tries apiece in the opening half before the Swannettes drew level 12-all with another try after the break and then with 10 minutes remaining, they edged ahead with their fourth of the match to take the lead 16 to 12.

The Swannettes certainly gave it their all, and in fact scored four tries to three during the game, but the Flyers were not to be denied, and having lost last year’s grand final and suffering only one defeat in 2025, that being to the Swannettes two weeks prior in the major semi, the Premiership Shield now sits alongside the Jessica Skinner Challenge Cup in their trophy cabinet!

The league tag game certainly had the large crowd buzzing, and the platform was set for the final showdown, the highly anticipated clash between the undefeated Coolah Kangaroos and the Coonabarabran Unicorns.

With the strong wind whipping across the ground it soon became apparent that kicking was going to play an important part in proceedings and indeed it did, with the first points coming in the 9th minute when Coolah’s front rower Chanse Burgess put a deft grubber through the Unicorns defensive line which was duly grounded by his lock, Hugh Wesley and with the conversion being successful the ‘Roos were up 6-0.

The visitors continued to apply pressure but the Coolah defence stood solid and eventually play moved down the other end of the field and then another grubber kick was again put in, resulting in a Coonabarabran player spilling the ball when trying to clean it up, the ball then picked up by Coolah’s Tyler Lennox who dived over to score what was to become a converted try and a 12-0 lead to the red and whites!

With half time looming the Unicorns needed to get on the scoreboard before the break which is exactly what they did via a try to their talented centre Brad Fuller. Nick Willoughby added the extras, and the scoreboard read 12 points to 6 as they players trooped to the sheds!

Fuller was at it again almost immediately after the resumption of play when following a good Coonabarabran attack down the right flank a kick was put in and the ball was not cleaned up by Coolah but was readily accepted by Fuller who dived over out wide to score.

A magnificent sideline conversion in difficult conditions by Willoughby locked the scores up at 12-all and it was very much a case of game on!

The situation looked even rosier for the ‘Roos not long after when a Unicorn player was sent to the bin, but rather incredibly it was to be the visitors who registered the only points during that period of play, with their winger Sonny Bill Walker finishing off some quick hands along the backline to score in the corner. Another great sideline conversion by Willoughby set up what was to be another grandstand finish on grand final day, with just six points separating the two teams and five minutes remaining on the clock!

With the Unicorns enjoying plenty of possession and good field position and throwing everything at them, the Kangaroos were called on to defend desperately throughout those final minutes which they somehow did to come away with a hard fought 24 to 18 victory!

Certainly, the Unicorns can be proud of their effort on the day and throughout the season, but the spoils belong to the Coolah Kangaroos, with the Premiership Shield and the Castlereagh Cup taking pride of place along with all the other Castlereagh League silverware available to them, that being the Knockout Shield and the Boronia Cup!

During the day presentations were made to the Castlereagh Players of the Year, those being Mab Fuller from the Warren Bulldogs (League Tag) and Chanse Burgess (Coolah Kangaroos) and Nick Willoughby (Coonabarabran Unicorns) who tied for the Castlereagh League Player of the Year.

The size of the crowd and the football played on the day was a fitting tribute to the popularity and standard of the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League competition!