By BRYSON LUFF

In their maiden year in the Castlereagh League competition the Narromine Jets have secured the minor premiership with a hard fought and thrilling 26 to 22 victory over the Cobar Roosters at Narromine’s Cale Oval last Saturday 20 August.

Having a bye in first grade in the final round of the competition this coming weekend means that the Jet’s cannot have the minor premiership taken away from them and they will be hosting the major semi final on Saturday 3^rd September.

It was a big day for the Jets with their league tag side also beating the Roosters 48 to 10 whilst a highlight of day was the reserve grade game against the Gulgong Terriers which ended in a 16 all draw, that game featuring an appearance by former NRL star and New Zealand international player Clinton Toopi who played half a game with each side.

Toopi was at Narromine to present the Jets with a plaque to recognise their involvement with the NSWRL State of Mind project.

The loss by the Roosters was a costly one, particularly in terms of their positioning on the first-grade ladder and they now find themselves sitting third, one point behind both the Jets and the Gilgandra Panthers.

Irrespective of what result will be forthcoming from their match against the Coonamble Bears at Cobar in the final round this Saturday, third is where they will stay if Gilgandra can down the Baradine Magpies at Gilgandra on the same day.

The Panthers were able to get over the top of the Bears in a scrappy game last Saturday winning the encounter 24 to 12.

The League Tag game saw the Pink Panthers edge their way back into the top four with an exciting 17 to 10 win over the Bearettes.

However the final four is far from decided and a win by Coonamble over Cobar combined with a loss by Gilgandra against the high flying Baradine Magpies would result in the Bearettes claiming the final semi final berth.

The reserve grade competition continues with games at Gilgandra who will be up against the Gulgong Terriers and the Binnaway Bombshells will be hosting the Narromine Jets at The Crater.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round 17 Scores

League Tag

Narromine 48 (Emily Edwards 3, Beth Clarke 2, Bradey Leach, Lily Spackman, Jannalie Dwyer, Lucy Dawson, Alexis Everett tries, Spackman 6 goals) defeated Cobar 10 (Brianna Watson, Jezebel Hitchins tries, Watson goal)

Gilgandra 17 (Shian Chatfield 2, Mab Fuller tries, Chatfield 2 goals and field goal) defeated Coonamble 10 (Tori Canham, Hannah Towns tries, Canham goal)

Baradine 20 (Ashanti Pennell, Zali Hyde, Hayley Andrews, Holly Woodham, Jorja Carey tries) defeated Binnaway 4 (Hailee Watts try).

Competition Ladder

Baradine 47 (+256), Dunedoo 43 (+176), Narromine 43 (+130), Gilgandra 41 (+25), Coonamble 39 (+43), Gulgong 35 (+18), Cobar 28 (-282), Binnaway 25

(-306).

Rugby League

Reserve Grade

Narromine 16 (Jordan Fleming, Isaac Thompson, Ryan Richardson tries, Jack Powell 2 goals) drew with Gulgong 16 (Koby Thurston, Anthony Furney, Jordan McGregor tries, Brad James 2 goals)

Binnaway 22 (Craig Harris 2, Tyrell Walker, Jay Magann tries, Magann 3 goals) defeated Gilgandra 14 (Adam Hazelton 2, Kaleb Sutherland tries, Shane Ritchie goal).

Competition Ladder

Binnaway 6 (+38), Narromine 5 (+2), Gulgong 3 (-30), Gilgandra 2 (-10).

First Grade

Narromine 26 (Linton Shaw 2, Doug Potter 2, Washie Itoya tries, Janus Walford 3 goals) defeated Cobar 22 (Ashley Davies 2, Zane Taylor, Loma Atuau tries, Tom Platter 3 goals)

Gilgandra 24 (David Smith2, Anthony Harris, Hayden Smith tries, David Smith 4 goals) defeated Coonamble 12 (Tyrell Kennedy, Daniel Sangster tries, Mitch Nalder 2 goals)

Competition ladder

Narromine 45 (+126), Gilgandra 45 (+34), Cobar 44 (+241), Gulgong 40 (+110), Dunedoo 38 (- 138), Coonamble 36 (+10), Baradine 25 (-369).

Round 18 Saturday 27 August

Gilgandra V Gulgong (Reserve Grade)

Gilgandra V Baradine (League Tag and First Grade)

Cobar V Coonamble (League Tag and First Grade)

Binnaway V Dunedoo (League Tag)

Binnaway V Narromine (Reserve Grade)

Gulgong bye