Bryson Luff & Margie McDonald
There is certainly a theme of brotherly love underlying the Gulgong Bull Terriers, who celebrated the club’s 100th anniversary with a 10-4 win over the Cobar Roosters in the Castlereagh Rugby League Grand Final last Saturday.
The first grade side had five sets of brothers playing: David and James Morrison, Toby and Duncan O’Leary, Brad and Tom James, Sam and Blake Gorrie, Wil and Tom Hawkins.
Brad James and Blake Gorrie scored tries with James kicking a conversion.
“We are the living embodiment of the brotherhood of Rugby League,” said Gulgong secretary-treasurer Mary Reddish.
“And they’re all locals, or at least all from the surrounding area. It makes for a nice, close team but I suppose you get that when you all come from a small town.
“But it’s so great because it’s our 100 years this season and we came through undefeated to win a premiership.”
The closeness of the teams was shown not only on the scoreboard but also in attack and defence, with the result in the balance until the full-time siren sounded.
There were some periods where both sides were guilty of some sloppy play but the first points didn’t come until eight minutes before half-time.
Gulgong halfback and captain-coach Brad James scored out wide to lead his team into the break 4-0 ahead.
James’ opposite number Thomas Plater evened things up for the Roosters, when he went over from close range just three minutes into the second half.
The Terriers seemed to be winning the territorial game and kept pressing the Roosters goal line.
The deadlock was broken when Gulgong front rower Jack Hart popped a beautiful pass up for his fellow prop Blake Gorrie to crash over.
The conversion brought up 10-4 on the scoreboard and a frantic final 11 minutes as the Roosters searched for the equaliser.
Curtain-raiser to the first-grade decider was the highly entertaining League Tag match between the Dunedoo Swannettes and the Narromine Jets, with the result not known the final few seconds of extra time.
The lead changed three times in the first half before the Swannettes went into half-time narrowly ahead 14-12 .
The second half saw the Jets put their noses in front 18-14 before Dunedoo replied with a try to lock it up at 18-18 at the end of regulation time.
The match looked headed for golden point, but in the ninth minute of extra time the Jets crossed out side (22-18) for the premiership win.
Earlier the Coonabarabran Unicorns had to come from behind to win the Reserve Grade premiership, 22-16 over the Gilgandra Panthers.
Gilgandra took a 10-4 lead to the sheds at half-time, but that lead soon evaporated when the Unicorns posted three converted tries (22-10) with the second half just 18 minutes old.
The Panthers responded with a late consolation try but the Unicorns’ surge after half-time secured the 22-16 win.
The Castlereagh League Grand Finals were played at Billy Dunn Oval, Gulgong.
Click here for the all Castlereagh League results.
