Cobar Roosters crowing as they collect the Cup
DESPITE having to face another long trip home from Gulgong’s Billy Dunn Oval, the Cobar Roosters would have been well-pleased with their additional luggage on the return journey; the Boronia Challenge Cup!
This iconic bush trophy, came into their possession following their comfortable 30-12 defeat of the Gulgong Terriers in Round Two of the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League competition.
The result handed the Terriers – reigning Castlereagh Premiers – their first loss since 2022 and, in doing so, reinforced the belief in many that the Roosters are the early-season favourites for the 2024 Premiership.
The Chookies now sit on top of the competition ladder on six points, along with the other two undefeated sides, the Coolah ‘Roos and the Coonabarabran Unicorns, who both registered hard-fought wins against Coonamble and Baradine respectively.
In both games, the winners were the visiting side and had to fight hard to come-away with the competition points. The ‘Roos continued their impressive start to the season with a 14-6 win over the Bears, and the Unicorns just got home in a tough local derby against the Magpies by 12-6.
In the other game, the Narromine Jets hosted the Gilgandra Panthers with both teams coming off big losses in Round One and, it was to be the Jets who prevailed in a see-sawing game that resulted in the scoreboard being locked-even on three occasions.
The final score was 32-22 to the Jets, after the Panthers had led 18-12 just 15 minutes into the second half.
Turning to Round Three of the competition, Cobar’s first defence of the Boronia Cup will be against the young-and-enthusiastic Baradine Magpies who, whilst winless at this early stage of the competition, have lost both their games by a combined total of just 10 points. No doubt they would like nothing better, than to knock the Roosters off their home perch.
Cobar would be ill-advised to take them lightly.
Match-of the-round status however has been conferred on the Coolah versus Coonabarabran game to be played at Coolah, where both sides will be very keen to finish the 80 minutes with their unbeaten record intact.
This should make for interesting viewing with a big crowd expected to witness the action at what has been a happy hunting ground for the ‘Roos thus far this year.
The Narromine Jets will be covering a bit of ground this Saturday also, firstly when their Youth League and League Tag sides head to “The Crater” at Binnaway to match it with the Bombshells. Those games are scheduled to kickoff at 10am, which will then allow the Jet’s faithful time to get to Coonamble to watch their First Grade side play the Bears in what is a crucial game for both teams.
Coonamble will also host Dunedoo in League Tag, prior to the First Grade game.
The final game will see the Gilgandra Panthers trying to break their season duck against the visiting Gulgong Terriers in Gilgandra. All photos courtesy: Peter Sherwood Photography
Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round Two results
Youth League
Gulgong 22 (Bobby Pascoe, Kayden Whiley, Mason Hammond, Ricky Constable tries, Caiden Horton three goals) defeated Cobar 16 (Tommy Bryan, Frazer Toropo, Nathan Kelly, Oisin Mcmullen tries).
League Tag
Dunedoo 34 (Shelley Cox,
Chelsea Gallagher, Emma Meyers, Hayley Berg, Paige Thompson, Tiffany Murphy tries, Geogia Price five goals) defeated Binnaway 0.
Baradine 62 (Savannah Carey three, Jalika Leslie two, Abby Thompson, Chelsea Woodham, Stephanie Dewson, Jorja Carey, Emily Murray, Suzzanah Carey, five, Craig two goals) defeated nd Ada Craig tries, Jorja Carey Coonabarabran 0.
Gulgong 18 (Tayissa Lucas, Ella Hawkins, Matilda Harper tries, Laurissa Tumpey three goals) defeated Cobar 4 (Sosie Barton try).
Narromine 52 (Rebecca Smythe three, Lucy Dawson two, Millah Phillips, Emily Edwards, Lajwana Carney, Emily Fardell tries, Shian Chatfield eight goals) defeated Gilgandra 0.
Coolah 38 (Jasmine Thomson two, Molly Burgess two, Jacinta Dummett, Fiona Whitbournemartin, Channy Burgess tries, Thompson three goals) defeated Coonamble 12 (Shakaye Walker two, Imogen Pawley tries).
First Grade
Coonabarabran 12 (Shannon Doole two tries, Brad Fuller two goals) defeated Baradine 6 (Luke Hamilton-forbes try and goal). Coolah 14 (Jack Piper, Justin Mogg, Chanse Burgess tries, Hugh Wesley goal) defeated Coonamble 6 (Adam Picken try, Mitch Nalder goal).
Cobar 30 (Loma Atua two, Nathan Mcandrews, Jed Noonan, Tim Hillam, Tadgh Mcmullen tries, Thamas Plater three goals) defeated Gulgong 12 (Mitch Mcwhirter, Joey Annetts tries, Brad James two goals)
Narromine 32 (Epeli Draunidalo, Tyler Beer, Washington Itoya, Doug Potter, Ryan Richardson, Luke Thompson, Cooper Anning tries, Potter two goals) defeated Gilgandra 22 (Jarrod Fuller, Wade Peachey, Chris Fuller, Craig Simson, Michael Louie tries, Ty Sutherland goal).
Round Three Games for Saturday, May 11
Binnaway versus Narromine (Youth League and League Tag – first game at 10am).
Coonamble versus Dunedoo (League Tag).
Coonamble versus Narromine (First Grade).
Gilgandra versus Gulgong.
Coolah versus Coonabarabran.
Cobar versus Baradine (Boronia Cup Challenge).