Cover Photo: The Cobar Weekly

By Bryson Luff

Fulltime in Round 14 of the 2024 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League signalled that the finals series was set to begin this coming weekend with the Qualifying Final and the Elimination Finals to be played on Saturday and Sunday respectively in all four grades.

Tom Knight Oval at Cobar will host the beginning of the finals action with the Roosters up against the Narromine Jets in First Grade, the winner to advance to the Major Semi against Coolah the following Saturday whilst the loser will face sudden death against the winner of the Elimination Final that will be played between the Gulgong Bull Terriers and the Coonabarabran Unicorns at Gulgong’s Billy Dunn Oval on Sunday.

The Roosters finished their competition round matches with a strong 44 to 11 win at home against the Gilgandra Panthers last Saturday, whilst the Jets will also come into the game on the back of a sturdy victory after they downed the Baradine Magpies 40 to 14 at Baradine.

In terms of wins this season against each other it stands at one all with the Roosters scoring a resounding 58 to 14 victory at Cobar in the opening round whilst the Jets returned serve when they won 28 to 18 in their Round 10 game at Narromine.

Although it will not be the end of the road for the loser, for the vanquished it would be the end of any chance to host the 2024 Grand Final so a fiercely fought contest is expected in front of what should be a good crowd.

Moving on to Sunday’s First Grade clash, the Terriers and the Unicorns have only met once so far this season, that being in Coonabarabran in Round 7 with the match being a 32-all draw.

If that result is any indication, then the supporters of both sides can look forward to an intense battle with the losing side bowing out of the premiership race whilst the winners will live on to fight another day.

There will be some high-quality match ups in the other grades played in at both venues with the League Tag game at Cobar between the Coolah Flyers and the Dunedoo Swannettes presenting itself as one not to miss.

The two teams played last Saturday with the Flyers coming away with a 32 to 14 win, although in terms of try scoring it was only four to three in favour of the Flyers after what was described as a fast flowing game.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round 14 scores

Youth League

Gulgong 22 (Jackson Pascoe, Xavier Yeo, Cooper Grant, Charlie Smallacombe tries, Callan Martin 3 goals) defeated Binnaway 16 (Harley Lowe, Jack Deshon, Will Duce tries, Sonny Bill Walker 2 goals)

Final Competition Ladder: Cobar 28, Gulgong 22, Narromine 20, Binnaway 14.

League Tag

Cobar 20 (Bridgette Negfeldt 2, Brennah Amuah, Brianna Watson tries, Watson 2 goals) defeated Gilgandra 10 (Rani Diggs, Wendy Brown tries, Diggs goal).

Narromine 28 (Shian Chatfield 2, Lucy Dawson, Kelsea Phillips, Emily Edwards tries, Chatfield 4 goals) defeated Baradine 10 (Claudia Eastburn, Stephanie Dewson tries, Anna Arndell goal).

Binnaway 18 (Armani Whipper 2, Megan Harris, India Rosewarn tries, Harris goal) defeated Coonabarabran 4 (Cody Wright try).

Coolah 32 (Molly Burgess 3, Brooklyn Blackadder, Mackenzie Blackadder, Channy Burgess tries, Lisa Jones 3, Brooklyn Blackadder goals) defeated Dunedoo 14 (Shelley Cox, Mya Clisby, Hayley Berg tries, Chelsea Gallagher goal).

Gulgong 32 (Matilda Harper 2, Millie Harper, Imogen Hollow, Amali Hollow tries, Claire Bodiam 3, Matilda Harper 2 goals) defeated Coonamble 14 (Sam Turnbull, Hannah Towns, Shakaye Walker tries, Mikiala Thurston goal).

Final Competition ladder: Narromine 42, Coolah 38, Dunedoo 36, Gulgong 34, Baradine 28, Coonamble 28, Cobar 24, Gilgandra 18, Binnaway 17, Coonabarabran 13.

Reserve Grade

Gilgandra 24 (Tim Altmann, Anthony Kelly, Jay Towney, Alex Sutherland tries, Sutherland 6 goals) defeated Cobar 16 (Gordon James 2, Marty Turton tries, Cody Martin 2 goals).

Baradine 60 defeated Narromine 0.

Gulgong 28 (Tom James, Guy Pascoe, Jake Mitchell, Jack Coupe, Jay O’Brien tries, Bobby Pascoe 4 goals) defeated Coonamble 16 (Tristan Draper, Mat Boney, Brendan Draper tries, Dayne Newberry 2 goals).

Final Competition Ladder: Binnaway 15, Gilgandra 12, Gulgong 12, Dunedoo 11, Baradine 11, Cobar 9, Narromine 4, Coonamble 4.

First Grade

Cobar 44 (Tristan Everett 2, Tim Hillam 2, Tadgh McMullen, Ryan Urquhart, Sione Fakahua, Jed Noonan tries, Thomas Plater 6 goals) defeated Gilgandra 11 (Ty Sutherland, Blake Frost tries, Sutherland goal and field goal).

Narromine 40 (Janus Walford 3, Zac Everett, Rory Miller-Coen, Harry McPherson, Mick Burns tries, Doug Potter 6 goals) defeated Baradine 14 (Silver Bunner, Brandon Worrell, Elvy McEwen tries, Liam Fernando goal).

Coolah 60 defeated Coonabarabran 0.

Gulgong 34 (Olli Hollow 2, Brad James 2, Joey Annetts, Blake Gorrie tries, James 5 goals) defeated Coonamble 18 (Adam Pickens,

Jack Kelly tries, Kelly 3 goals).

Final Competition Ladder: Coolah 42, Cobar 36, Narromine 36, Gulgong 31, Coonabarabran 28, Gilgandra 24, Coonamble 22, Baradine 19.

Finals Week 1 – Next weekend

Saturday 10th August – qualifying semi-finals @ Cobar with 10.15am kick off for first game (Reserve Grade, with other games to follow straight on).

Reserve Grade – Gilgandra V Gulgong.

Youth League – Narromine V Binnaway (Elimination semi).

League Tag – Coolah V Dunedoo

First Grade – Cobar V Narromine

Sunday 11th August – Elimination Semi-Finals with a 11.30am start.

Reserve Grade – Dunedoo V Baradine

League Tag – Gulgong V Baradine

First Grade – Gulgong V Coonabarabran.

Check local media and club socials to confirm venues and times.