By Bryson Luff

The Coolah ‘Roos have stamped themselves as a genuine premiership threat in the 2024 Castlereagh League competition when they tipped the Cobar Roosters off their perch at the top of the ladder with a hard fought 22-16 win at Cobar’s Tom Knight Oval.

In doing so the ‘Roos claimed the Boronia Cup and remain the only unbeaten first grade side thus far this season.

Their first defence of the Cup will be this Saturday when they will host the Gulgong Terriers this Saturday.

The Terriers will be enthused by their 32-28 victory over the Narromine Jets and would like nothing better than to get their hands back on the Boronia Cup after having lost it to Cobar in Round 1.

An energetic Baradine Magpies outfit proved too strong for the visiting Gilgandra Panthers running out comfortable 34-14 winners after what was a physical game between the two sides.

For the Magpies this was their first win for the season, and it not only delivered them the much needed competition points but also the Noonan-Campbell Cup which is contested between the two clubs on a day that featured a commemoration of the life of Baradine legend, Ken Campbell.

In the remaining game the Coonabarabran Unicorns bounced back from a heavy defeat at the hands of the Coolah ‘Roos the previous week to register a narrow 30 to 26 win over the Coonamble Bears at Coonamble.

Whilst the Coolah district is humming with excitement over the success of their first-grade side this year the Coolah Flyers are also enjoying a great start to the league tag season and remain undefeated following their 32-22 win over Cobar last Saturday.

The other two undefeated league tag sides, Dunedoo and Narromine, both registered big wins over Coonabarabran and Gulgong respectively to set up a massive Jessica Skinner Cup challenge game this Saturday at Dunedoo.

These two sides have had some mighty battles in recent times including last year’s grand final which saw the Jets take the spoils.

The Swannettes are the only side to have held the Jess Skinner Cup since its inception last year and Saturday’s game looms as possibly one of their most difficult defences.

A great game will be eagerly anticipated by supporters of both clubs.

The First Grade match of the round will be the Boronia Cup challenge game between the ‘Roos and the Terriers at Coolah’s Bowen Oval which should be chock-a-block with supporters from both camps to observe the action.

The home side could not have delivered a better start to the season for the red and white faithful than what they have achieved so far this year, winning the Castlereagh League knockout in the lead up to the competition proper where they are now sit on top of the ladder as the

only undefeated side after four rounds.

Following their stellar year in 2023 the Terriers have lost a number of their premiership winning team yet are still winning games and are coming off a good win over the Narromine Jets last Saturday which will give them the belief that they can roll the ‘Roos.

Another great battle should take place at Coonabarabran when the Unicorns host the Cobar Roosters. 

Both teams sit in equal second place on 10 competition points.

No doubt the Roosters will be smarting from their loss to Coolah at home last Saturday, but the Unicorns at home should provide them with a tough contest.