By BRYSON LUFF

Whilst the Gilgandra Panthers first grade side did not take the field over the weekend, they were the main beneficiaries of the result of the game between the Cobar Roosters and the Dunedoo Swans played at Dunedoo on Saturday.

Going into the game the Roosters held a share of the competition lead with the Panthers, but were well ahead of Gilgandra in terms of their respective points differential.

That points differential has not changed, but the Swans once again proved that they are a difficult proposition for any visiting team when they play at home in front of their legion of supporters, this time coming away with a 16 all draw with the competition favourites.

The fact that Dunedoo scored four tries to three in the engrossing encounter might well give them some reason to be mildly disappointed with the final result, but certainly Gilgandra fans were more than happy with it because the Panthers now head the competition table, albeit by a solitary point.

With four rounds remaining the Swans will be out to topple the Narromine Jets at Narromine this Saturday to remain in the hunt for a semi-final berth.

The Jets registered a big 68 to nil win over Baradine in first grade and they will be looking to consolidate their third place on the congested ladder with back-to-back wins at Cale Oval.

Whilst the Jets first grade win was impressive it was their League Tags’ effort against the highly regarded Baradine outfit that may have surprised many throughout the Castlereagh competition, maybe not the win as such, but the magnitude of it, Narromine winning 26 to 4.

Both games at Gulgong between the Terriers and the Coonamble Bears were vital to the semi final prospects for all four teams concerned and, in the end, it was to be a win to both clubs with Gulgong taking first grade 26 to nil whilst Coonamble continued their recent resurgence in the league tag competition with a hard fought 20 to 16 win, that win keeping them well and truly in touch with the top four.

Gilgandra v Binnaway in Saturday's leaguetag. PHOTO Stephen Basham

In the remaining league tag game, the Gilgandra Pink Panthers were able to overcome the improved Binnaway team, taking the match 36 to 4.

Turning to round 15 both Gulgong and Dunedoo face up to vital away games against Baradine and Narromine respectively, a loss by either could potentially have far reaching impact on their involvement in the games at the pointy end of the season, this being so in both first grade and league tag.

Similarly, the Coonamble league tag side will be out to continue their surge up the ladder when they host the Binnaway Bombshells.

In other news a four team reserve grade competition is set to commence in round 16, the clubs having entered teams being Gulgong, Binnaway, Narromine and Gilgandra.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Round 14 Scores

League Tag

Dunedoo 46 (Meg Christensen 2, Hannah Christie 2, Allanah Stoddart 2, Alexis Gallagher 2, Hayley Berg tries, Hallie Hogden 5 goals) defeated Cobar 4 (Jezebel Hitchens try).

Narromine 26 (Emily Edwards, Lily Spackman, Jacana Powell, Seena Prout, Jannayie Dwyer tries, Spackman 2, Powell goals) defeated Baradine 4 (Anna Arndell try).

Coonamble 20 (Tori Canham 2, Shakaye Walker, Shay Hooper tries, Canham 2 goals) defeated Gulgong 16 (Tayla Pennell, Abby Hollow, Tayissa Lucas tries, Dayna Manley, Mel Robinson goals).

Gilgandra 36 (Mab Fuller 2, Kiara Brown, Rani Diggs, Emily Fardell, Shian Chatfield, Kylie Louie tries, Chatfield 4 goals) defeated Binnaway 4 (Jessie Newton try).

Competition Ladder

Baradine 38 (+154), Narromine 36 (+112), Dunedoo 34 (+148), Gilgandra 34 (+26), Coonamble 32 (+28), Gulgong 28 (+38), Cobar 23 (-194), Binnaway 22 (-252).

Rugby League

Dunedoo 16 (Brian Bradshaw 2, Hugh Watts, Jarrod Spicer tries) drew with Cobar 16 (Tim Hillam, Nathan McAndrew, Loma Atuah tries, David Watson 2 goals).

Narromine 68 (Janus Walford 2, Washington Itoya 2, Doug Potter 2, Tylah Beer 2, Ryan Wheeler, Mick Burns, Malachi Clarke, Alex Sambrook, Brody Egan tries, Walford 7, Potter goals) defeated Baradine 0

Gulgong 26 (Toby O’Leary, Koby Thurston, Kyle Alexander, Danial Crane, Thomas Reddish tries, James Morrison 3 goals) defeated Coonamble 0.

Competition Ladder.

Gilgandra 38 (+36), Cobar 37 (+170), Narromine 36 (+60), Gulgong 31 (+64), Dunedoo 31 (- 90), Coonamble 29 (+22), Baradine 21 (-248).

Round 15 Saturday 6^th August

Baradine V Gulgong, Narromine V Dunedoo, Coonamble V Binnaway, Cobar bye, Gilgandra bye.