Christie and Hood Castlereagh League, by Bryson Luff. 

The curtain will come down on the 2024 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League season this Saturday afternoon when the grand finals in the four grades will be played out in front of what should be a huge crowd at Cobar’s Tom Knight Memorial Oval, the final game of the season being a highly anticipated clash between the Cobar Roosters and the Coolah Kangaroos.

The ‘Roos gained entry to the Big Dance last Saturday when they downed the Narromine Jets in the preliminary final played at Coolah on a day that featured variable weather conditions throughout play in all four grades.

In the first grade encounter the Jets enjoyed having use of a strong driving wind in the first half, and their judicious use of that wind saw them continually kicking to the southeastern corner and pinning the home side deep in their own half.

This made for tough going for the Kangaroos and rarely did they enter the Jets half in the opening quarter of the game.

But as often does happen after sides are called on to defend strongly and do the hard yards in carting the ball up, it was to be the ‘Roos who were first to score when they were able to benefit from a spilt ball by the Jets, quickly shifting the ball wide to replacement winger Sam Wesley who went over out wide to make it 4 points to nil.

That soon became 10 points to nil when their hard-running centre Josh Charles was able to score what was to become a converted try, and the Kangaroos were seemingly well on top despite running into the wind.

However, for whatever reason the Coolah side’s game then slipped into one of impatience and ill-discipline, with their desire to throw the “miracle pass” on numerous occasions, coupled with the conceding of numerous penalties and having a player in the bin, certainly aiding the Narromine cause. With five minutes remaining until half time, the Jets’ front rower Ryan Richardson crashed over for a converted try and then, with seconds remaining in the half, they looked to have scored again but lost the ball over the line for a 10 to 6 scoreline at the break.

That score soon changed to 10-all in the opening minute after the resumption of play when Jets centre Washington Itoya was able to cross the line after the Jets were gifted possession by a Coolah knock-on from the kick-off.

The game then became a dour struggle between the two teams with no change to the score until the 26th minute when the ‘Roos five eighth, Tyler Lennox, was able find some space in the Narromine Jets defence and he went over from close range.

This was to be the first of three tries that Coolah scored after a Narromine player had been binned just one minute earlier!

A mere two minutes after Lennox’s try, the ‘Roos prop Tyler Austin galloped over from 15 metres out after Coolah had come down with the ball from a bomb, and at that point his side lead 22 to 10.

Some five minutes later, Chanse Burgess sealed Coolah’s grand final entry with a great individual effort when he did a one-on-one steal 30 metres out before bumping off numerous defenders on his way to score wide out.

Narromine’s woes continued when they had a player sent off in the dying moments of the match, the resultant penalty goal making the final score 28 to 10.

It was a great day for the host club in their comeback year because they also took out the League Tag game, with The Flyer’s coming from behind to down the Dunedoo Swannettes 24 to 10 to book a grand final berth against the thus far unbeaten Narromine outfit.

Earlier in the day the Baradine Magpies downed the Binnaway Bombshells 20 to 12 in reserve grade, and the Gulgong Terriers edged out the Bombshells 22 to 18 after both sides had scored four tries.

Action in the grand finals at Cobar this Saturday will kick off at 10am with the first-grade game due to kick off around 2.30pm – and what a game it should be.

On the three occasions that ‘Roos and the ‘Roosters have met so far this year, the biggest winning margin has been just 6 points with Coolah winning 22 to 16 at Cobar in round 4, that win also delivering them the Boronia Cup, then in round 13 at Coolah it was again the ‘Roos that prevailed, this time 18 to 12, but come the major semi-final just two weeks ago the Roosters got the win, and the right to host the 2024 grand final, with a 22 to 18 victory in what was a high quality and tough game played at Dunedoo.

That loss by Coolah has been their only one this year but they face a tough task in downing the Rooster’s on their home turf in front of what will be a huge red, white and blue presence.

Cobar has not hosted a grand final since they won the Group 11 premiership in 1998 when they downed Parkes 34 to 19, that win sealing the Clayton Cup for them that year.

Certainly, the Kangaroos will need to be more patient in attack, and improve on the lack of discipline that they showed last Saturday, but to have only suffered one loss throughout the year shows the quality of the team, and holds them in good stead for the test that lays in front of them.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League – Preliminary Finals scores.

Played at Coolah on Saturday, August 24.

Reserve Grade

Baradine 20 (Drew Harris 2, Travis Houghton, Lewis Varty tries, Liam Fernando 2 goals) defeated Binnaway 12(Travis Elwell, Jade Hooper, Hayden Mitchell tries).

Youth League

Gulgong 22 (Kayden Whiley, Bobby Pascoe, Xavier Yeo, Jay O’Brien tries, Caiden Horton 2, Pascoe goals) defeated Binnaway 18 (Sonny Bill Walker 2, Deakon Meyers, Will Duce tries, Walker goal).

League Tag

Coolah 24 (Brooklyn Blackadder 2, Mackenzie Blackadder, Emma Pettett tries, Lisa Jones 4 goals) defeated Dunedoo 10 (Shelley Cox, Lauren Sullivan tries, Georgia Price goal).

First Grade

Coolah 28 (Josh Charles, Tyler Lennox, Tyler Austin, Chanse Burgess, Sam Wesley tries, Dan Lane 4 goals) defeated Narromine 10 (Washington Itoya, Ryan Richardson tries, Doug Potter goal).

Grand Finals to be played at Tom Knight Oval, Cobar on Saturday, August 31.

Reserve Grade, to kick off at 10am with other games to follow: Gilgandra Panthers V Baradine Magpies

Youth League: Cobar Roosters V Gulgong Bull Terriers

League Tag: Narromine Jets v Coolah Flyers

First Grade: Cobar Roosters V Coolah Kangaroos

Gates will open at 8am. Admission $10.00 adults. $5.00 concession. EFTPOS will be available.