Cover Photo: Col Boyd Photography

Bryson Luff

Whilst the huge top of the table clash between the Cobar Roosters and the Coonabarabran Unicorns to be played at Cobar’s Tom Knight Memorial Oval this Saturday will see the time-honoured Boronia Cup go to the victors, with the winner of the game also taking a major step towards claiming minor premiership honours in the 2026 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League competition.

Going into the game the two sides sit equal first on the competition ladder on 34 points, each having suffered just the one loss thus far this year, the Unicorns going down to the Roosters 20-16 back in round three in their game played at Coonabarabran whilst the Roosters were beaten 18-10 at Coolah by the Kangaroos in round 10.

A huge crowd is expected to view what should be a great game between two high quality
outfits.

Although the result of the game will put the winner in the box seat for the minor premiership that honour will not be fully determined until the results from the final round are known, with Cobar travelling to Narromine and the Unicorns off to Mudgee to play the Coolah Kangaroos in the main curtain raiser before the NRL clash between the Canberra Raiders and the Penrith Panthers.

Both the Roosters and the Unicorns had big wins defeating Gilgandra and Narromine respectively.

The Roosters brushed aside the Gilgandra Panthers 60-0, with the Blue and Golds seeing off Narromine to the tune of 54-16 which would have to be a worrying result for the Jets as they head into the semis.

A hard fought 30-24 win by the Dunedoo Swans over the Gulgong Bull Terriers at Gulgong effectively shut the door on the Terriers’ chances of making the top five and whilst the teams that will contest the finals are now decided, their final order is still very much up in the air.

Conversely the league tag top five remains a mystery with the Cobar Roosterettes, Narromine Jets, Gilgandra’s Pink Panthers and the Gulgong Terriers vying for positions three, four and five, with the game in Gilgandra this Saturday between the Pink Panthers and the Terriers having a big bearing on the final makeup.

The Dunedoo Swannettes and the Coolah Flyers are assured of filling out the top two positions.

Castlereagh League Round 12 First Grade scores

Coonabarabran 54 (Eddie Kuras 2, Josh Nixon, Silver Bunner, Sam Pickette, Nash Walker, Orlando Kershaw, Jordan Baker, Nick Willoughby tries; Brad Fuller 5, Willoughby 2 goals) defeated Narromine 16 (Ryan Richardson, Jaylin Donnelly tries; Corey Cox 2 goals).

Cobar 60 (Nathan McAndrew 3, Ashley Davies 2, Thomas Plater 2, Jaxon Burke, Jackson Vallis tries; Tadgh McMullen 7 goals) defeated Gilgandra 0.

Dunedoo 30 (Siti Raidriwa, Ali Beale, Jack Guan, Ty Sutherland, Will Duce tries; Sutherland 5 goals) defeated Gulgong 24 (Elvey McEwen 2, Reign Cullen, Ethan Parsons tries; Oliver Hollow 4 goals).

Coolah 60 (Hugh Wesley 2, Jack Piper, Sam Wesley, Dylon Edwards,
Bradley Pickering, Brad Ellis, Austin Burgess, Andrew Rumbel, Jacob Medd, Jake Byrne
tries; Pickering 6 goals) defeated Warren 20 (Victor Kennedy, Braith Boyd, Elias Kennedy,
???, tries; Elias Kennedy 2 goals).

Round 13 Fixtures

Saturday 25th July
Dunedoo V Baradine (Jessica Skinner Challenge Cup – league tag)
Gilgandra V Gulgong
Coonamble V Coolah
Narromine V Warren
Cobar V Coonabarabran (Boronia Cup challenge – first grade)