Bryson Luff

The Coonabarabran Unicorns edged out the Narromine Jets 40-34 in the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League round four match of the round played at Narromine’s Cale Oval on Saturday.

Spectators were treated to 14 tries being scored in what was an enthralling game with both sides crossing seven times.

Unicorns second rower Jordan Baker dominated his side’s scoresheet, going over no less than four times, whilst the Jet’s captain coach and five eight Corey Cox led the way with three of his own.

In the end it was to be goal kicking that separated the two teams, the final result being a six point win to the visitors, that win maintaining their upward location on the competition ladder, where they currently sit equal second with the Dunedoo Swans.

The Swans were too strong for the visiting Gulgong Terriers winning 50-10 whilst at Coonamble the Bears were similarly too strong for the Baradine Magpies, taking the game 62 -0 with their winger Jarran Welsh notching five tries in an outstanding display.

Playing at Gilgandra the undefeated Cobar Roosters got off to a flyer, with their front rower Tim Hillam leaping high to grab a well-placed bomb and landing in the in-goal area for a try in the opening two minutes.

The next 20 minutes saw the Panthers throwing the ball around in fine style and looking very likely to puncture the Roosters defence until a loose pass out wide was scooped up by the Roosters’ youthful winger Jaxon Burke who raced away to run 70 metres to score
unopposed.

Burke was in again just two minutes later when quick hands gave him a free run to the line and that try took seemed to take the sting out of the Gilgandra attack and from that point they were on the back foot, that being totally the case when they had a player sent off just prior to half time and another in the bin in the second half.

The Roosters led 22-0 at half time, with Burke having scored three of their four tries in the opening forty minutes.

He was to go on and grab another as the Roosters totally dominated the second half running in six tries to one to take the game to the tune of 54-4.

It was a good day for the Chookies, as they also won the Youth League (28-18) and Reserve Grade (20-18) as well as an eight all draw in the league tag.

After two weeks on the road the Roosters will enjoy a home game this Saturday when they will welcome the Gulgong Bull Terriers to Tom Knight Memorial Oval and whilst they will start favourites in the match the Terriers will be going all out to return to the winners list after their big loss to the Dunedoo Swans last week.

The Swans will be featuring in the match of the round, when they take the short journey to Coolah to take on the Kangaroos and they might fancy their chances of returning home with not only the Boronia Challenge Cup from the first grade encounter but also the Jessica Skinner Challenge Cup which will be played for in what will be a high standard league tag game.

The Narromine Jets and the Coonamble Bears clash also presents itself as an interesting
match, with both sides going along nicely, the Jets having lost a couple of games by narrow margins and the youthful Bears team proving to be a handful for their opposition so far this season.

It has been a tough start to the year for both the Warren Bulldogs and the Gilgandra Panthers and the two sides will be desperate to get the win when they meet up at Warren in what should be a hard-fought game.

It has also been a tough start for the Baradine Magpies, and it doesn’t appear as if it things are going get much easier for them this Saturday when they clash with the high flying Coonabarabran Unicorns in a local derby to be played at Coonabarabran.

Castlereagh League round 4 scores

Coonabarabran 40 (Jordan Baker 4, Nash Walker, Sam Wilson, Luke Michael tries, Brad Fuller 6 goals) defeated Narromine 34 (Corey Cox 3, Janus Walford, Ryan Richardson, Jaycin Donnelly, Brad Charlton tries, Beau-Dean Williams 3 goals).

Coonamble 62 (Jarran Welsh 5, Kevin Thurston-Welsh 2, Jack Kelly 2, Brayden Dodd, Mitch Nalder, Danial Sangster tries, Brenton Glover 7 goals) defeated Baradine 0.

Dunedoo 50 (Joe Masibala 2, Rorey Madden 2, Kaleb Sutherland, Ben Gallagher, Ty Sutherland, Will Duce, Clifford Noke tries, Ty Sutherland 6, Sam Coe goals) defeated Gulgong 10 (Mason Hammond, Joey Arnetts tries, Brodie Alderdice goal).

Cobar 54 (Jaxon Burke 4, Ashley Davies, Jackson Vallis, David Watson, Tom Hillam, Nathan McAndrew, Loma Atua tries, Tadgh McMullen 3, James Neyland 3, Thomas Plater
goals) defeated Gilgandra 4 (Josh Bamblett try).

Coolah 60 defeated Warren 0 (Forfeit)

Competition ladder: Cobar 12, Coonabarabran 10, Dunedoo 10, Narromine 9, Coolah 9, Gulgong 8, Coonamble 8, Gilgandra 6, Warren 3, Baradine 3.