By Bryson Luff

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League

In what equates to a somewhat staggered start to the 2023 Christie and Hood Castlereagh League season a number of competition games were played in both the youth league and league tag competitions over the weekend, the majority of those being in Gilgandra on Sunday when six league tag games were contested.

Cobar, Dunedoo and Narromine did enough at Gilgandra to suggest that they will be in the mix when it comes to semi final time, all three handing in strong performances, although Coonamble certainly gave the Dunedoo Swannettes a run for their money before going down in what was one of the tighter games witnessed on the day

ABOVE: Baradine Player pushes through Dunnedoo's defence.

Attention now turns to round one of the competition with some appetizing first grade games on offer.

After spending 2022 in limbo the Coonabarabran Unicorns find themselves back on the paddock and at home to the Baradine Magpies in a local derby that should attract a huge crowd between these two archrivals.

If past epic contests between the two near neighbours is anything to go this will be no place for the faint hearted and a fierce battle is anticipated.

A little further south another local derby will be taking place when the Binnaway Bombshells will play host to the Dunedoo Swans in a match that will be a real test for both outfits, this being especially so for the home side who are making a comeback to first grade after several seasons.

That fact alone should ensure that “The Crater” is extremely well populated with spectators who will be eager to get some sort of gauge on their respective team’s prospects for the 2023 season.

In other games the Gulgong Bull Terriers will be keen to start their centenary year with a bold showing against the Narromine Jets whilst the visitors will be out to build on what was a very productive first year in the Castlereagh League competition in 2022 and a tight match could well be on the cards.

Meanwhile the Coonamble Bears will be out to impress their home crowd when they entertain the 2022 premiers, the Cobar Roosters at Bear Park.

Gilgandra will have the bye.

ABOVE: Narromine Player uses her hips to slide through Binnaways defence.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Scores

Youth League games played at Narromine Saturday 29th April

Cobar 60 defeated Gilgandra 0

Narromine 28 (Zac Hignett, Harry McPherson, Rory Miller Corn, Ashton Coleman, Charlie Bonham tries, McPherson 3 goals) defeated Binnaway 0

League Tag games played at Gilgandra Sunday 30^th April.

Coonamble 16 (Rikkilee Nixon-Welsh, Imogen Pawley, Tori Canham tries, Canham 2 goals) defeated Gilgandra 8 (Trista Raines, Chloe McLean tries) Half time Coonamble 6/4

Dunedoo 28 (Madeline Cox 2, Annie Christensen 2, Lauren Sullivan tries, Christensen 4 goals) defeated Baradine 0. Half time Dunedoo 16/0.

Narromine 42 (Shian Chatfield 3, Shayana Naden 2, Jacana Powell, Kelsea Phillips tries, Shian Chatfield 6, Talitha Chatfield goals.) defeated Binnaway 0.

Half time Narromine 24/0.

Cobar 32 (Sarah Morley 3, Brianna Watson, Sophie Clarke, Georgia Boland tries, Watson 4 goals) defeated Gilgandra 0.

Half time Cobar 16/0.

Dunedoo 14 (Annie Christensen 2, Lauren Sullivan tries, Christensen goal) defeated Coonamble 8 (Rikkilea Nixon-Welsh, Emily Ryan tries)

Half time Dunedoo 10/4.

Cobar 28 (Bridgette Negfeldt 2, Sarah Morley 2, Brennah Aumua tries, Brianna Watson 4 goals) defeated Binnaway 0

Half time Cobar 6/0.

*

Games Friday and Saturday 5^th and 6^th May

Friday: Gilgandra V Narromine in Youth league @ 6.30pm

Saturday; Coonamble V Cobar, Gulgong V Narromine, Binnaway V Dunedoo (Binnaway V Cobar in Youth League at 12.00pm), Coonabarabran V Baradine (Gilgandra V Baradine in League Tag @ Coonabarabran 1.15pm)