Bryson Luff
The Preliminary Finals of the Castlereagh League were played this weekend at Narromine’s Cale Oval with the reserve grade game between Narromine Jets and Binnaway Bombshells setting the tone for the afternoon.
The match was an intense battle between the Jets and the Bombshells, with the Bombies hanging tough for an 8-0 win. The result was testament to their stoic try line defence that was tested throughout the match by the Jets who were unable to find a way through.
Binnaway led 6-0 at half-time with the only points in the second half being the addition of a penalty goal to their tally.
A high-quality League Tag game between the Jets and the Coolah Flyers followed, and there was plenty of spectacular play including a diving “tag” by a Coolah player in the opening minute to stop a long run by a Jets player only centimetres from the goal line. A few plays later, the Flyers went the length of the field and scored under the posts at the other end.
At half-time the Flyers were ahead 10-6 but four minutes after play resumed the Jets scored to have them trailing 12-10.
The lead changed twice before Coolah edged ahead 20-8 with 12 minutes of play remaining to set up a grandstand finish. The Flyers scored again in the final minutes to register a 26-8 win and secure a spot in the Grand Final on Saturday.
Whilst the reserve grade game may have presented the scoreboard attendant with little to do the first-grade encounter was the exact opposite with no less than 78 points scored – including 50 in a hectic second half.
The Jets got away to a great start against Coonabarabran Unicorns. On the back of a 40/20 in the opening minute they scored a converted try to lead 6-0 before extending that lead to 8-0 via a penalty goal in the 11th minute.
However, the rest of the first half belonged to the Unicorns who scored four tries before the break to take a 20-8 lead into half-time.
The Jets capitalised on errors from the Unicorns to score underneath the posts and reduce the deficit to 20-14.
An opportunity to take two points from a penalty was accepted by the Unicorns and they edged out to 22-14 shortly afterwards.
Jets winger Epeli Draunidalo then scored two quick tries to help the Jets to a 26-22 early in the second half.
The remainder of the game was a roller coaster for the supporters of both sides with the lead changing hands three times before the Unicorns snuck home 40-38.
The win propels the Unicorns into the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Grand Final on Saturday where they will face Coolah Kangaroos at Coolah. The ‘Roos head into the game undefeated in season 2025 – their only loss in the past two seasons was last year’s Major Semi-final.
The Unicorns have fully tested the Kangaroos in their two meetings so far this season, losing 22-20 in Round Nine before going down 30-24 in the final round of the regular season. They will enter the Grand Final full of confidence that they can get over the top of their opponents.
The Grand Final action will kick off at 11.15am, with the reserve grade game between the Baradine Magpies and the Binnaway Bombshells expected to draw a big early crowd of passionate supporters from both clubs early into Coolah’s Bowen Oval!
That game will be followed by what should be a cracking League Tag fixture between the Dunedoo Swannettes and the Coolah Flyers.
The Swannettes are the only side to have defeated the Flyers in 2025, that win coming in the Major Semi-final two weeks ago at Coolah. Whilst the Swannettes will be highly encouraged by that result, the Flyers will be equally determined to seek redemption in front of their home crowd and claim the premiership, after having losing last year’s decider to Narromine Jets.
The Castlereagh Player of the Year awards will be announced after the respective Grand Finals.
Click here for Castlereagh League results.
