Tallon Smith

The Wellington Cowboys have cemented their status as contenders in the Peter McDonald Premiership with a 28-22 win over the Mudgee Dragons at Kennard Park on Sunday afternoon.

Tries to Nathaniel Robinson, Justin Toomey-White, Jacob Wilson, Tyrone Tattersall and a 12-point haul to Blake Ferguson comprising a try and four conversions was enough to propel the Cowboys to a victory over the defending premiers.

A hat-trick from Mudgee’s Nathan Orr wasn’t enough as the Dragons fell to just their second loss of the season.

The win sees Wellington (5-2) sitting in equal second place at the halfway mark of the season, with seven rounds to play.

Meanwhile, Bathurst Panthers have held on for a hard-fought away victory over the Nyngan Tigers at Larkin Oval to register their first win of 2025.

A try and two goals to Haydn Edwards proved the difference between the sides in the must-win clash as both sides look for some late-season form to try and snag a spot in the top eight.

In other results, Orange Hawks held ladder-leaders Forbes Magpies to a 36-all draw, Dubbo CYMS continued their strong form with a 24-18 win over Bathurst St Pats, Orange CYMS took the points 28-24 against Dubbo Macquarie, and Parkes had a comfortable 36-14 home win over Lithgow.

Group 3

After devastating floods ravaged the region in recent weeks, the Group 3 season finally resumed on Saturday, with defending premiers Port Macquarie Sharks picking up where they left off with a 28-4 win over the Wauchope Blues at Lank Bain Sporting Complex.

Koby Smith led the way with a double for the Sharks, as the Port Macquarie side ran in five tries to one in a strong performance that maintained their unbeaten record.

The Old Bar Pirates also continued their winning ways with a 22-6 victory over the Wingham Tigers at Wingham.

Nikau Wrathall crossed the stripe twice for the Pirates as they scored four tries on the way to a third win from four games in an interrupted campaign.

Finally, on Sunday, the Forster-Tuncurry Hawks ran out 26-14 victors over the Taree City Bulls.

Our thoughts are still with everyone in the region as the recovery from the floods continues.

Group 16

The Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs lead the way at the halfway mark of the Group 16 season after a 28-24 victory over the Tathra Sea Eagles in a top-two showdown at the Tathra Country Club on Saturday.

Led by a double to Pose Tuilaepa, the Bulldogs ran in six tries to four and should have had a much more handsome victory if not for some wayward goalkicking.

The Bulldogs now sit at 6-0 at the midway point of a 12-game regular season campaign, with the Sea Eagles two games behind on 10 points.

In between the two are the Eden Tigers, who moved into standalone second with a 52-18 win over Narooma on Sunday.

Winegar Crichton crossed the stripe a remarkable four times for the Tigers, as last-season’s runners-up look for another chance to right the wrongs of 2024 in the upcoming finals.

In other results, the Cooma Stallions secured a much-needed two points in the finals race with a 28-16 win over the Moruya Sharks, and Bombala put on a display with a 60-0 win over Batemans Bay.

George Tooke Shield

Crookwell have continued their bounce back from a slow start to the season with a 62-18 away win over the UC Stars at Raiders Belconnen on Saturday.

Four tries to Jonathon Cotterill and a hat-trick to fullback Steven Cummins spearheaded the Green Devils’ charge to a monumental win that provides plenty of momentum for a charge up the table the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Boorowa upset Bungendore 20-14 at home, Binalong secured a hard-fought 26-24 win over the Snowy River Bears, and Harden showed their premiership credentials in a 70-4 victory over competition newcomers Googong.

Statewide Scoreboard

Canberra

West Belconnen 46 d Belconnen 20

Queanbeyan Roos 30 d Gungahlin 20

Queanbeyan Blues 58 d Yass 6

Goulburn 18 drew Woden 18

Central Coast

Toukley 12 d The Entrance 2

Woy Woy 40 d Terrigal 12

Kincumber 24 d Ourimbah 20

Wyong 48 d Berkeley Vale 4

Illawarra

Dapto 46 d De La Salle 18

Wests 20 d Thirroul 10

Collegians 38 d Corrimal 12

Newcastle

Wyong 22 d Lakes United 6

Macquarie 12 d Northern Hawks 10

Maitland 12 d Cessnock 10

Wests 26 d Kurri Kurri 0

Northern Rivers

Tweed Heads 32 d Byron Bay 12

Ballina 28 d Lower Clarence 4

Peter McDonald Premiership

Dubbo CYMS 24 d Bathurst St Pats 18

Parkes 36 d Lithgow 14

Bathurst Panthers 20 d Nyngan 18

Orange Hawks 36 drew Forbes 26

Orange CYMS 28 d Dubbo Macquarie 24

Wellington 28 d Mudgee 22

Group 2

Coffs Harbour 28 d South Grafton 12

Grafton 26 d Macksville 24

Woolgoolga 42 d Nambucca Heads 18

Group 3

Old Bar 22 d Wingham 6

Port Macquarie 28 d Wauchope 4

Group 4

Werris Creek 48 d Dungowan 8

Boggabri 48 d Kootingal 6

Moree Boars 62 d Wee Waa 24

North Tamworth 20 d Gunnedah 16

Group 7

Stingrays 26 d Kiama 22

Shellharbour Sharks 28 d Jamberoo 24

Berry-Shoalhaven Heads 32 d Albion Park-Oak Flats 16

Gerringong 30 d Nowra-Bomaderry 18

Group 9

Junee 26 d Cootamundra 24

Tumut 42 d Wagga Brothers 20

Albury 22 drew Temora 22

Gundagai 22 d South City 14

Wagga Kangaroos 18 d Young 16

Group 16

Merimbula-Pambula 28 d Tathra 24

Cooma 28 d Moruya 16

Bombala 60 d Batemans Bay 0

Eden 52 d Narooma 18

Group 17

Ivanhoe 22 d Barellan 12

Rankins Springs 58 d Deniliquin 6

Goolgowi 8 d Hillston 0

Group 19

Uralla 30 d Glen Innes 26

Group 20

Leeton 22 d Hay 14

Griffith Waratahs 32 d TLU Sharks 20

DPC Roosters 28 d Yanco-Wamoon 20

Griffith Black & Whites 32 d West Wyalong 12

Group 21

Greta-Branxton 34 d Muswellbrook 14

Denman 20 d Aberdeen 14

Scone 26 d Singleton 16

George Tooke Shield

Boorowa 20 d Bungendore 14

Binalong 26 d Snowy River 24

Crookwell 62 d UC Stars 18

Harden 70 d Googong 4

Goulburn Murray

Corowa 48 d Wodonga 8

Tumbarumba 48 d Wangaratta 16

Castlereagh League

Narromine 64 d Baradine 0

Gulgong 36 d Warren 30

Coonamble 33 d Cobar 28

Coonabarabran 48 d Dunedoo 20

Woodbridge Cup

Manildra 28 d Eugowra 12

Cowra 32 d Orange United 20

Peak Hill 30 d Cargo 12

Canowindra 66 d Grenfell 6

Oberon 40 d Molong 0