By Bryson Luff

Two benchmark teams in the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League League Tag competition, the Dunedoo Swannettes and the Narromine Jets turned it on again at Dunedoo’s Robertson Oval last Saturday, in what was a memorable Jessica Skinner Challenge Cup match.

Since it’s inception in 2023, the Swannettes have been the only team to have held the Jessica Skinner Cup, that is, until last Saturday, when the Jets won by 26-22 in front of a large and appreciative crowd.

In other League Tag news, the Gulgong Terriers pulled-off what many might consider to be an upset win over the previously-undefeated Coolah Flyers at Coolah in a tight game 14-12 after both sides had scored three tries.

At Coonamble, the Bearettes won another close game, taking-down the Baradine Magpies by 20-16, whilst Gilgandra’s Pink Panthers celebrated their first win since 2022 after downing Binnaway by 14-4, while Cobar were too-strong for Coonabarabran winning by 52-4.

Whilst the Skinner Cup may have found a new home, the Boronia Cup is staying in Coolah, with the ‘Roos first defence of the prized silverware seeing them blitz the 2023 premiers, the Gulgong Terriers to the tune of 56-14, romping-in for five tries in each half in what was another very impressive display by the only unbeaten side in the First-Grade competition this year.

The ’Roos will not be defending the Cup next Saturday, as they will be heading-up to Baradine to take-on a Magpies outfit that would have been disappointed by their 48-18 capitulation to Coonamble last weekend, this being the Bears’ first win for the season and one that will give the red-and-blacks a degree of confidence going into their Round Six clash against Narromine at Narromine this weekend.

The remaining First Grade game had the Cobar Roosters bounce-back from their loss at home to Coolah the previous week, to just edge-out the Coonabarabran Unicorns in a hard-fought affair at Coonabarabran, the final score being 32-28.

The Unicorns will now head down the Newell to resume their friendship with the Gilgandra Panthers this Saturday, and this is very much shaping as a game in which the Panthers must make a statement, as to their ability to climb the ladder after a disappointing start to their season which has thus far only netted them one win.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round Five scores

Youth League

Cobar 36 (Kai Taylor 2, Jaxon Burke, Tadgh McMullen, Frazer Toropo, Aiden Swan, Jamal Eves tries, Tommy Bryan 4 goals) defeated Binnaway 28 (Sonny Bill Walker 3, Andrew Peacocke 2 tries, Walker 4 goals).

Competition Table

Cobar 10 (Played 4, won 3 lost 1), Gulgong (played 3, won 3), Binnaway 5 (Played 3, won 1), Narromine 5 (played 3, won 1).

League Tag

Narromine 26 (Shian Chatfield 2, Lily Spackman, Emily Phillips, Emily Fardell tries, Chatfield 3 goals) defeated Dunedoo 22 (Chelsea Gallagher, Emma Meyers, Evie Hogden, Mia Gallagher tries, Mia Gallagher 2, Tiffany Murphy goals).

Gilgandra 14 (Laura Jordan, Wendy Brown, Jamie Sutherland tries, Jordan goal) defeated Binnaway 4 (Emma Dafter try).

Cobar 52 (Sophie Clarke 2, Brianna Watson 2, Bianka Jacobsen, Brennah Amua, Georgia Boland, Taylor Good, Bridgette Negfeldt tries, Watson 6 goals) defeated Coonabarabran 4 (Allira Watton try).

Gulgong 14 (Matilda Harper, Imogen Hollow, Melanie Robinson tries, Robinson goal) defeated Coolah 12 (Brooklyn Blackadder 2, Channy Burgess tries).

Coonamble 20 (Shakaye Walker 2, Hannah Towns, Mikaela Thurston tries, Thurston 2 goals) defeated Baradine 16 (Ada Craig 2, Holly Woodham, Stephanie Dewson tries).

Competition Ladder

Narromine 15, Dunedoo 13, Coolah 13, Baradine 11, Gulgong 11, Coonamble 11, Cobar 9, Gilgandra 7, Binnaway 5, Coonabarabran 5.

First Grade

Coolah 56 (Dylan Edwards 3, Casey Burgess 2, Jake Burgess,  Gerry Sheridan, Chanse Burgess, Kieren McDonald, Hugh Wesley tries, Dan Lane 8 goals) defeated Gulgong 14 (Brodie Magann, Saimoni Lewaya, Toniela Rabalele tries, Brad James try.)

Coonamble 48 (Tyrell Kennedy 3, Nathan Walker, Kevin Thurston-Welsh, Brendon Draper, Jack Kelly, Daniel Sangster, Rob Heinreich, Derek Robinson tries, Kelly 4 goals) defeated Baradine 18 (Jack Masman, Tallis McEwen, Cameron Worrell tries, McEwen 3 goals).

Cobar 32 (Ben Griffiths, James Neyland, Ryan Urquhart, Jayden Potts, Nathan McAndrew, Loma Atua tries, Griffiths 2, Neyland goals) defeated Coonabarabran 28 (Peter Watton 2, Eddie Kuras, Brad Fuller, Dave Sulter tries, Nick Willoughby 4 goals).

Competition Ladder

Coolah 15, Cobar 13, Coonabarabran 11 Narromine 11, Gulgong 9, Gilgandra 9, Baradine 7, Coonamble 7.

Round Six, Saturday, June 1

Cobar versus Dunedoo (League Tag) 10.30am kick-off.

Gulgong versus Binnaway (League Tag and Youth League)

Narromine versus Molong (Youth League)

Narromine versus Coonamble (League Tag and First Grade)

Baradine versus Coolah

Gilgandra versus Coonabarabran.