Mendooran Tigers and the Gulargambone Galahs kicked off Round Three action in the Christie and Hood Castlereagh Community Cup competition in Dunedoo on Friday night, with the Galahs getting wins in both League Tag (24-12) and the Rugby League competition (24-4).
The win by Gulargambone in the Rugby League competition, combined with a 30-8 victory by Walgett over Trangie in their game played at Trangie on Saturday, sets up a tantalising top of the table Round Four battle between the Galahs and the Dragons. The game will be played at Gulargambone, with the Minor Premiership going to the victor.
Adding spice to the contest is the fact that the two sides fought out a thrilling 14 all draw last time that they met.
Meanwhile, at the Castlereagh League Tag Knockout played at Cobar on Saturday, the Dunedoo Swannettes gave every indication they again will be one of the sides to beat in 2026 after some impressive displays to make it back-to-back knockout titles, scoring a mammoth 106 points and conceding only four throughout their four games over the day.
Whilst the Swannettes were dominant, they still had to work hard in their 12-0 win in the final after Gulgong pushed them all the way to signal they will be in for a productive season.
The on-field action will continue after the Easter break this coming weekend and with the final round games of the Community Cup competition being played at Gulargambone and Trangie, along with the Castlereagh League knockouts for first grade and youth league sides being staged at Gulgong on Saturday 11 April.
Castlereagh Community Cup Round Three scores
League Tag
Gulargambone Galahs 24 (Mikayla Kelly 3, Temia Robinson, Adda Craig tries, Craig 2 goals) defeated Mendooran Tigers 12 (Marley Harvey, Emma Burgess, Jaimi White tries)
Rugby League competition
Gulargambone Galahs 24 (Evan Ryan 2, Jack Kelly, Marshall Ryan, Dwayne Hammond tries, Brandon Hammond 2 goals) defeated Mendooran Tigers 4 (Kaleb Sutherland try).
Walgett Dragons 30 (Triston Wise 3, Trent Mason, Robert Boney tries, Quinton Kennedy 5 goals) defeated Trangie Magpies 8 (Ernie Jones, Jaman Crawford tries)
Competition Ladder
Walgett Dragons 8, Gulargambone Galahs 8, Mendooran Tigers 4, Trangie Magpies 3.
Round 4 games 11/12 April
Gulargambone v Walgett
Trangie v Mendooran
Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Tag knockout scores
Played at Tom Knight Memorial Oval, Cobar Saturday 28 March
Preliminary games
Cobar 20 Warren 0, Coonamble 6 Gilgandra 4, Dunedoo 40 Coonabarabran 0, Cobar 4 Coonamble 4, Dunedoo 16 Gulgong 4, Gilgandra 10 Warren 4, Gulgong 6 Coonabarabran 0, Cobar 12 Gilgandra 0, Warren 6 Coonamble 6.
Semi-finals
Gulgong 12 Cobar 8, Dunedoo 38 Coonamble 0.
Final
Dunedoo 12 defeated Gulgong 0.
