Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round 3.
The Coolah Kangaroos journeyed to Coonamble in round 3 of the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League competition and, whilst they came away with the competition points, they were very close to becoming another Bear trap statistic!
The Roos, the reigning premiers, had been rolling along nicely so far in the 2025 season, having claimed the Castlereagh Knockout Shield and scoring big wins in their opening two games, both played at Coolah, against Narromine and Cobar, but any thoughts of complacency should have been knocked out of them by an enthusiastic Bears outfit on Saturday at Coonamble.
The game was well and truly in the balance throughout, being 4-all at half time with the lead changing on four occasions in the second stanza, as well as being level at 10-all at one stage in the close and exciting affair.
The Bears may have thought that they were going to cause a major upset when they led 16 to 14, but it was to be Coolah’s captain and co-coach Chanse Burgess who had the final say when, much to the dismay of the Red and Black faithful, he went over for his third try for the afternoon to get his side up 18 to 16!
Another close game was played out at Cobar when the Roosters entertained the Coonabarabran Unicorns.
The day opened up on a sombre note with a minute’s silence being observed prior to the league tag game in honour of the two Coonabarabran boys, Max and Sam Johnson, who tragically had they lives ended during the preceding week.
The first grade match saw the home side get out of the blocks quickly, at one stage leading 12 points to nil, and again enjoying a 12-point buffer at 16 to 4. However by the time the teams went to the sheds at half time the home side had allowed the visitors to fight their way well and truly back into the contest, with the scoreboard then reading 16 to 14.
As they did in the first half, the Roosters dominated the early action on the scoreboard after the resumption of play, and they extended their lead to 26 to 14 before the Unicorns hit back to make it 26 to 20!
A penalty goal to Cobar gave them a bit of breathing space at 28 to 20, and that breathing space proved to be the difference at the end with Coonabarabran scoring a converted try before the final hooter signalled a 28 to 26 win to the Chookies!
The Dunedoo Swans continued their good early season form with a 50 to 22 win over the visiting Baradine Magpies at Dunedoo in what was their first home game for the year.
After leading 26 to 4 at half time, the Swans had to survive a Baradine comeback after the break with the Maggies scoring rapid-fire back-to-back converted tries to make a game of it, with the margin between the two sides being just 10, the score being 26 to 16.
However, the Swans were able to regroup, and they finished strongly to record their second win of the year.
Swans captain-coach Sam Coe, who played a strong individual game, indicated that to win at home to him was important, not only for his team but also for the Dunedoo community that had thrown so much support behind the resurgent Swans after the club did not field a first-grade side last year.
The remaining first grade game was played at Narromine on Friday night with the Jets hosting the Warren Bulldogs, coming away with a strong 53 to 6 win against the visitors.
The Jets will feature in the match of the round this Saturday when they travel to Coonabarabran to take on the Unicorns.
Both sides currently sit on seven competition points having had two wins and one loss, and whilst it is early days in the competition, a loss to either side could well have major consequences down the track and a hard-fought battle is expected.
Another interesting game is schedule to be played at Gulgong’s Billy Dunn Oval with the Bull Terriers hosting the Dunedoo Swans in a southern local derby.
Prior to having the bye last weekend, Gulgong registered a big win over the Baradine Magpies.
Similarly, the Swans also had a sizeable win over the Magpies on Saturday, so if the scores from those two games (against Baradine) can be used as any sort of barometer then a close game should be in the offering.
Whilst that local derby is taking place down south there will also be one happening up north with Baradine at home to Coonamble.
After two somewhat torrid road trips, the Magpies will be looking forward to a home game against the Bears. Obviously, the Grizzlies will be well encouraged by their gutsy performance against the Coolah Roos last Saturday, but whether or not they can transport the spirit that they showed in that game over to Baradine remains to be seen, because the Magpies are also renowned as a side that always lifts in front of its parochial home crowd.
The remaining first grade game will be played at Warren, with the Bulldogs facing the daunting task of downing the Coolah Kangaroos.
It is doubtful that Coolah will be showing any form of nonchalance towards this road trip following their scare at Coonamble last weekend, and the Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them trying to contain the competition heavyweights!
Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round 3 scores.
League Tag
Narromine 42 (Shian Chatfield 2, Haleigh McCarney 2, Lily Spackman, Lucy Dawson, Rebecca Trethowan tries, Shian Chatfield 4, Talith Chatfield goals) defeated Warren 18 (Ashanti Pennell, Brodie Boyd, Chloe Deguit tries, Maddie Marks 3 goals).
Cobar 40 (Taylah Good 3, Bridgette Negfeldt, Aisha Schofield, Brianna Watson, Kayla Hasson-Williams tries, Watson 6 goals) defeated Coonabarabran 12 (Maeg Walton, Emily Mathews tries, Rachael Barron 2 goals)
Coolah 60 (Molly Burgess 3, Brooklyn Blackadder 2, Mackenzie Blackadder 2, Monika Mistreveska 2, Breannah Burgess tries, Tori Mogg 9, Fiona Whitbourne-Martin goals) defeated Coonamble 0.
Dunedoo 24 (Chelsea Gallagher 4 tries and 4 goals) defeated Baradine 4 (Suzannah Carey try).
Gulgong 38 (Montana Liebeck 4, Matilda Minett, Cheyanne Leonard, Alexis Douglas, Lolly Tumpey tries, Claire Bodiam 2, Tumpey goals) defeated Gilgandra 6 (Trista Raines try, Kiara Brown goal).
Competition ladder: Coolah 9, Narromine 7, Dunedoo 7, Baradine 7, Cobar 7, Coonabarabran 5, Warren 5, Coonamble 5, Gulgong 5, Gilgandra 3.
First Grade
Narromine Jets 53 (Epeli Draundalo 3, Todd Edmunds 2, Jaack Isdale 2, Kaiden Hill, Corey Cox, Ryan Richardson tries, Cox 6 goals, Hill field goal) defeated Warren Bulldogs 6 (Donald Kennedy try, Thomas Potter goal).
Cobar Roosters 28 (Kai Taylor 2, Nathan McAndrew, Kody Ford, Gerald Mackey tries, Thomas Plater 4 goals) defeated Coonabarabran Unicorns 26 (Sonny-Bill Walker, Luke Michael, Nick Willoughby, Koopa Thompson, Tyson Farrell tries, Brad Fuller 3 goals).
Coolah Kangaroos 18 (Chanse Burgess 3, Hugh Wesley tries, Dan Lane goal) defeated Coonamble Bears 16 (Mark Jones 2, Brendan Draper tries, Brenton Glover 2 goals)
Dunedoo Swans 50 (Rory Madden 3, Sam Coe 2, Tyler Bamblett, Ty Sutherland, Josh West, Mana Dermott tries, Sutherland 7 goals) defeated Baradine Magpies 22 (Allen Riley, Liam Fernando, Cameron Worrell, Tom Purdy tries, Fernando 3 goals).
Gulgong Bull Terriers bye.
Competition Ladder: Coolah 9, Coonabarabran 7, Dunedoo 7, Narromine 7, Cobar 7, Gulgong 7, Coonamble 5, Baradine 5, Warren 3.
Round 4: Saturday, May 17
Coonabarabran V Narromine, Baradine V Coonamble, Warren V Coolah, Gulgong V Dunedoo, Cobar V Gilgandra (League Tag)
Check club socials and local media for game times.
