Cover Photo: Peter Sherwood Photography

Bryson Luff

Going into the final round of the 2025 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League competition the composition and finishing order of the top five was unknown with results from three different venues having a bearing on who was in and who was out and in what order the teams in contention finished.

The Dunedoo Swans were in a three-way battle for position number five on the ladder and having the bye they had to hope that results would go their way.

One of those results did go their way, with the Cobar Roosters dropping out of the race when they were unable to sustain a great second half comeback in their match against the Narromine Jets played at Cobar.

The Jets had established a commanding 20-nil lead by half time, but their prospects of securing victory looked somewhat shaky after the home side came roaring back into the game, scoring 14 unanswered points to trail but just six.

It is history now that the Jets were able to go over for a converted try to extend their lead to 12 points and whilst the Roosters replied with another try the first half deficit was too much for them to reel in and they lost the game 26-18, the loss ending their season.

Meanwhile, some 400 kilometres to the east the Coonamble Bears were locked in a do or die battle with the Gulgong Bull Terriers at Gulgong, with a win to the Bears their only option if they wanted to stay alive in the 2025 premiership race

Indeed, they did stay alive, upsetting the home side by converting a 12-6 lead at half time into an impressive 32-16 win on the road with their superior points differential securing them fifth spot on the ladder ahead of Dunedoo.

They will have to travel that same road again next Sunday for another do or die clash with the Bull Terriers in the elimination semi-final.

The top of the table clash between the Coolah Kangaroos and the Coonabarabran Unicorns saw the ‘Roos retain their unbeaten status and the Boronia Cup when they outlasted a fast-finishing blue and gold outfit to come away with a 30-24 win after leading 30-12 at one stage.

The loss by the Unicorns, combined with Narromine’s win over Cobar, means that the Jets leapfrog them on the table and now those two teams will meet at Narromine next Saturday in the qualifying semifinal.

Fifth position on the ladder in both league tag and reserve grade were also decided by points differential with the Cobar Roosters finishing ahead of the Warren Bulldogs in league tag and Coonabarabran doing likewise against Gulgong in reserve grade.

Final Competition Ladder: Coolah 42, Narromine 35, Coonabarabran 34, Gulgong 32, Coonamble 28 (+41), Dunedoo 28 (-22), Cobar 26, Warren 23, Baradine 15.

Finals Week 1 – Next weekend

Reserve grade to kick off at 11.30am on both days with other games to follow straight on

Saturday 9 th August Qualifying semis @ Narromine.

Reserve Grade; Baradine Magpies V Binnaway Bombshells.
League Tag: Dunedoo Swannettes V Narromine Jets.
First Grade; Narromine Jets V Coonabarabran Unicorns.

Sunday 10th August Elimination semis @ Gulgong.
Reserve Grade; Coonamble Bears V Coonabarabran Unicorns.
League Tag; Baradine Magpies V Cobar Roosterettes.
First Grade; Gulgong Bull Terriers V Coonamble Bears.

Admission $10.00 and $5.00 concession. Under 16 free.

EFTPOS will be available at the gate.