Spectators left Coonabarabran Sports Ground on Saturday, August 8, having witnessed an epic Christie and Hood Castlereagh League first grade qualifying semi-final battle between the Coonabarabran Unicorns and the Coolah Kangaroos.

It was a high-quality and totally gripping affair that went down to the wire, with the home side getting up by just two points, 20-18.

The two teams were at it again at the same venue in the preliminary final on Saturday and, once again, it was a contest that will be well remembered for years to come.

The Kangaroos didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard when second-rower Austin Burgess cleaned up a grubber that rebounded off a Coonabarabran player to score in the third minute.

Some 10 minutes later, a Brad Pickering 40/20 gave the Roos great field position, which they duly converted into points when a slick long pass from Chanse Burgess put winger Jacob Medd over in the corner. The visitors were looking good, leading 10-0.

The Unicorns needed to score next and they did just that after some good ball movement saw fullback Sam Pickette touch down.

However, that effort was soon cancelled out when Chanse Burgess was able to hit the defensive line from close range and swivel over for another Coolah try, putting the Kangaroos ahead 16-4.

With half-time looming, the home side was desperate to bridge the gap on the scoreboard and applied constant pressure to the Kangaroos’ defence. It held firm until, finally, the ball was spun wide and Unicorns lock Nick Willoughby dashed over to score a much-needed try before converting it.

At half-time, it was very much game on, with Coolah leading 16-10.

It took just two minutes of the second half for the Unicorns to level things up after they got the ball back from the kick-off. Within the ensuing set, centre Josh Nixon was able to score and, with Willoughby’s sideline conversion sailing over, it was 16-all.

The Roos responded not long after when another Chanse Burgess pass, this time a clever short offload while he stood in a tackle, saw Bradley Ellis spear over for a try to give Coolah a four-point lead.

Play moved from one end to the other until a Unicorns attacking raid saw centre Eddie Kuras breach the Coolah defensive line to score what became a converted try, putting his side back in front 22-20.

Following that try, it appeared the Unicorns were getting on top, making good metres through the middle and winning the game territorially.

That seeming domination came to an end when Chanse Burgess barged over for his second try after Coolah was able to move play down to the Coonabarabran end of the field. Once again, the lead changed, with the Kangaroos now ahead 26-22.

A break from inside his own half by Unicorns halfback Nash Walker saw him transfer the ball to Nixon, who sprinted over to score. With 12 minutes remaining, the blue-and-golds were up by two points, with the scoreboard reading 28-26.

This set the scene for a frantic final 12 minutes, with both teams throwing everything into their attack and alternately being forced to scramble desperately in defence.

The tension for supporters of both sides was palpable, and it only got worse when a penalty goal to the Kangaroos, with five minutes remaining, locked the teams together at 28-all.

With just 30 seconds to go, it looked for all money as though the game was headed for extra time, with a Coolah player held up over the line.

However, the Coolah player quickly retreated the 10 metres to play the ball and, with the Coonabarabran defence looking to extinguish a likely Pickering field-goal attempt, the ball found its way to Jake Hawkins, whose wobbly effort just squeezed inside the left upright.

With two seconds remaining, the Kangaroos had secured an incredible 29-28 win and an opportunity to make it three premierships in a row when they meet the Cobar Roosters in the grand final next Saturday.

In the earlier games, the Cobar Roosters Youth League side did not get ahead of their Narromine Jets opponents until the final five minutes of the match, when a converted try edged them ahead 26-22.

They were then forced to desperately defend that four-point lead as the Jets threw everything at them, including a last-second effort that saw a Narromine player bundled into touch mere centimetres from scoring.

The Roosters will take on Coonabarabran in the grand final.

A strong 28-12 win by the Coolah Flyers over the Narromine Jets saw them set up a grand final battle with the Dunedoo Swannettes in next Saturday’s premiership decider.

The grand finals will be played at Cobar next Saturday, with the Youth League grand final kicking off the day’s action at 11am. The League Tag game will follow immediately after the Youth League presentations conclude, with the first grade match starting no earlier than 2pm.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League – Preliminary Final scores

Played at Coonabarabran Saturday, August 22

Youth League.

Cobar Roosters 26 (Aiden Swan 2, Jaxon Burke, Lochie Brookman, Drew Barton tries, Brennan Auckett 3 goals) defeated Narromine Jets 22 (Shannon Rule, Blake Edwards, Ryan Pearce, Flynn McGlashan tries, Beau-Dean Williams 3 goals). Half time; Narromine 10 Cobar 4.

League Tag.

Coolah Flyers 28 (Brooklyn Blackadder 3, Jenna Packham, Taylah Ellis, Mackenzie Blackadder tries, Brooklyn Blackadder 2 goals) defeated Narromine Jets 12 (Shian Chatfield, Lydia Gordon tries, Chatfield 2 goals) Half time; Coolah 14 Narromine 0.

First Grade.

Coolah Kangaroos 29 (Chanse Burgess 2, Austin Burgess, Bradley Ellis, Jacob Medd tries, Bradley Pickering 4 goals, Jake Hawkins field goal) defeated Coonabarabran Unicorns 28 (Josh Nixon 2, Sam Pickette, Eddie Kuras, Nick Wiloughby tries, Willoughby 4 goals). Half time; Coolah 16 Coonabarabran 10.

Next Saturday, August 29

2026 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Grand Finals @ Tom Knight Memorial Oval, Cobar

Gates open at 9.00am. First game at 11.00am

Youth League: Coonabarabran Unicorns V Cobar Roosters.

League Tag: Dunedoo Swannettes V Coolah Flyers

First Grade (with kick off not before 2.00pm): Cobar Roosters V Coolah Kangaroos.