Bryson Luff
The table-topping Coolah Kangaroos and the second-placed Coonabarabran Unicorns will thrash it out next Saturday in a game that should draw one of the biggest crowds in recent memory to the Coonabarabran Sportsground.
The ‘Roos are unbeaten in 2025, but they can expect that they will have to work hard to maintain that status against the Unicorns who have only suffered the one defeat in the opening eight rounds of the competition – a two-point loss to the Cobar Roosters at Cobar in Round Three.
Both teams had strong wins over the weekend, with Coolah retaining the Boronia Cup when they saw off a challenge from the Gulgong Bull Terriers for an emphatic 52-12 victory at Coolah.
The Unicorns were too good for the Coonamble Bears, converting a 14-0 lead at half-time into a 36-10 win, with five of their seven tries being scored by players one to five to demonstrate their willingness to spread the ball in attack.
The Dunedoo Swans returned to the winners’ list when they downed the Warren Bulldogs 40-30 in a high-scoring game played out at Warren.
Apart from what should be a great clash at Coonabarabran, other interesting games throughout the Castlereagh area this Saturday include the third-placed Jets host the equal fourth-placed Cobar Roosters at Narromine’s Cale Oval with the race for a Semi-final berth hotting.
Similarly, the desire to stay in the Semi-final hunt means the game to be played at Coonamble, between the Bears and the Bull Terriers from Gulgong will be a willing affair.
Whilst it will not be a top-of-the-table clash at Baradine this Saturday, it will be still be hard fought with the Magpies and the Warren Bulldogs still looking for their first win for the season.
Round Nine sees the commencement of the hugely popular reserve grade competition with games to be played at all venues plus at the Binnaway’s home ground, The Crater, where the Bombshells host the rather historic return of the Mendooran Tigers, who are playing their first match in 40 years.
Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round Eight results
League Tag: Coolah 40 Gulgong 4; Narromine 56 Gilgandra 0; Coonamble 26 Coonabarabran 8; Baradine 28 Cobar 14; Dunedoo 38 Warren 12. Standings: Coolah 24, Narromine 22, Dunedoo 20, Baradine 18, Cobar 16, Warren 16, Gulgong 12, Coonabarabran 12, Coonamble 12, Gilgandra 8.
First Grade: Coolah 52 Gulgong 12; Coonabarabran 36 Coonamble 10; Cobar 60 Baradine 0; Dunedoo 40 Warren 30. Standings: Coolah 24, Coonabarabran 22, Narromine 19, Gulgong 18, Cobar 18, Coonamble 16, Dunedoo 14, Warren 11, Baradine 9.
Round Nine: Coonabarabran v Coolah, Narromine v Cobar, Coonamble v Gulgong, Baradine v Warren, Gilgandra v Dunedoo (League Tag), Binnaway v Mendooran (Reserve Grade).
Check club socials and local media to confirm game times.
