By Bryson Luff

Not for the first time in the long history between the two clubs, the Coonabarabran Unicorns trooped home from Bearstone Park in Coonamble as losers after going down to the Bears in a very high scoring match.

Seemingly defence was not a high priority for either side with no less than 17 tries being scored in a match that yielded a total of 88 points, with the Grizzlies running out 46 to 42 victors.

Whilst the result was not enough to lift Coonamble off the bottom of the competition ladder it has placed the Unicorns in a vulnerable position as far as their final five ambitions are concerned with just four rounds of the 2024 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League competition remaining.

Currently they sit in fifth, just three points in front of the Gilgandra Panthers.

As the competition rounds count down wins for the Panthers become increasingly vital if they are to force their way into a semi final berth, beginning this Saturday when they host the Narromine Jets at McGrane Oval.

The Jets are coming off a strong 28 to 18 win over second placed Cobar last Saturday, with that game having the potential to put them in a similarly vulnerable position as Coonabarabran now faces, had they lost to the Roosters.

In the remaining first grade game, the Gulgong Terriers continued their recent good form when they downed the Baradine Magpies 38 to 6 at Gulgong.

The Terriers League Tag side also made a big step to consolidating a top five finish when they defeated the Maggies 24 to 10.

Apart from the Gilgandra versus Narromine game Round 11 of the competition throws up some interesting clashes with Gulgong facing the long road trip to Cobar to try and ruffle the Roosters feathers, the result of that game possibly having many implications on the final finishing position for both teams.

Rarely do the Roosters lose two in a row, and rarely do they lose at home, but the Terriers seem to be finding form at the right end of the season and they are capable of really putting it to the home side if they travel well.

At Coonabarabran the Unicorns will be looking to put their loss to Coonamble behind them when they take on the Baradine Magpies in a local derby that are always fiercely contested, and the Maggies would like nothing better than to cause their near neighbour more grief on the competition ladder.

The remaining game will see Coolah and Coonamble clash at Coolah in what is a Boronia Cup match and whilst the Bears will be buoyed by their win last weekend, they face a tough ask in trying to defeat the unbeaten ‘Roos on their home patch.

The reserve grade competition will continue with matches at Gilgandra, Cobar, Coonamble and Dunedoo.

The League Tag match of the round will take place at Coolah with the equal second placed Flyers hosting the fifth placed Bearettes from Coonamble.