By Bryson Luff

Played in breezy conditions at Dunedoo’s Robertson Oval the Cobar Roosters had managed to come back from an eight-nil deficit early in proceedings in their qualifying semi-final against the Dunedoo Swans to claw their way back on the scoreboard to have it reading eight all at the break courtesy of a converted try and then a penalty goal right on the half time siren.

Their momentum carried them to a 16 to eight lead in the second half before the Swans centre Villiame Turuva scored his third try for the afternoon to make it 16 to 14 and very much game on.

Tim Hillam’s second try for the Roosters gave them a bit of breathing space, extending their lead out to eight at 22 to 14. With tensions running high in both camps the game the final quarter of the match saw a Cobar binned and a Dunedoo player sent off with 15 minutes remaining following a dust up.

When the binned Rooster rejoined the fray with just 5 to go his place in the foul house was quickly taken up by two more Roosters which presented the Swans with a great opportunity to breach the Cobar defensive line, but despite their best efforts to do just that the Roosters managed to hold their line in tact to secure the victory and a shot at hosting the 2023 grand final if they can beat Gulgong next Saturday.

The day at Dunedoo began on a sombre and emotional note with a minute’s silence being observed in respect of the untimely passing of Coonabarabran Unicorn player Kyle Turner the day before.

With his number 11 jersey retired the Unicorn’s reserve grade went on to record a strong win over the Roosters 42 to 6.

The Roosters also tasted defeat in the League Tag game against the Narromine Jets but certainly made a game of it, coming back from being down 28 to 8 at half time to be trailing 28 to 20 early in the second half before the Jets regrouped and went on to win 38 to 20.

On Sunday, at Narromine, a minute’s silence for Kyle Turner was again observed before the first-grade elimination semifinal between the Narromine Jets and the Coonabarabran Unicorns kicked off.

The Unicorns got away to a great start and lead 10 points to 6 midway through the first half before the Jets levelled it in the 26 th minute and from that point on they took control of the game with their flying winger “Freddy” Joji, dazzling the crowd, and the Unicorn defence, with his stunning footwork and pace which saw him race in for four tries and play a major contribution to the final

scoreline that had his team come away with a big 50 points to 20 victory.

The Jets centre Washington Itoya also figured prominently, bagging three tries in the victory.

The lower grades saw the Gilgandra Panthers reserve grade side score a 22 to 20 win over the Gulgong Terriers in extra time and the reigning League Tag premiers, the Baradine Magpies remain in the semi finals with a 24 to 10 win over Coonamble.

Next weekend will see the major semi finals be played at Gulgong on Saturday and the minor semis at Dunedoo on Sunday.

By the time the Cobar Roosters first grade side get home after their major semi final game against the Gulgong Terriers they will have travelled some 4,600 kilometres to play in their last six games, a distance greater than driving from Sydney to Perth (and 600 kilometres of the way back)!

Obviously, they will be relishing the prospect of securing the home game that will be forthcoming from their match against the Terriers, but the question is will it be the grand final on 9th September or the preliminary final on the 2nd September.

To get to host the grand final is the big prize on offer for both the Roosters and the Terriers this Saturday. The big question is, “Can the Roosters be the first team to defeat the Terriers in season 2023?”

The two times that the teams have met thus far have seen Gulgong come away with a 34 to 20 win at Cobar in round 9 and winning again 36 to 24 at Gulgong just a couple of weeks ago in the final competition round.

The winning margins of 14 and 12 would indicate that the Roosters have been competitive in both games and perhaps with a bit of luck they could upset the Terriers, all be it a difficult task to do so at Billy Dunn Oval.

The other grades on Saturday present as being very high-quality affairs with a local derby clash in the reserve grade between the Baradine Magpies and Coonabarabran Unicorns starting proceedings followed by the absolute blockbuster league tag game between the undefeated Dunedoo Swans and the Narromine Jets who have only lost the one game this year, that being to the

Swans with a 16 to 12 scoreline.

On Sunday at Dunedoo the Dunedoo Swans and the Narromine Jets will again clash, this time in the sudden death first grade semi-final.

The Swans won 38 to 30 in their only meeting so far this year, but they have run into injury problems late in the season and will have to dig deep to hold the Jets out.

The other grades will see the Cobar Roosters figure in both games taking on Gilgandra in reserve grade and the Baradine magpies in league tag.

Christie and Hood Castlereagh League semi-final scores

Qualifying semi-finals played at Dunedoo Saturday 19th August 2023.

Reserve Grade

Coonabarabran 42 (Sam Pickette 3, James Walton 2, Luke Taylor 2, Chris Wallis, Will Abbot tries, Billy Whillock 2, Walton goals) defeated Cobar 6 (Shane Surridge try, Chris Deighton goal). Half time Coonabarabran 22 Cobar 0.

League Tag

Narromine 38 (Lucy Dawson 2, Jacana Powell, Kelsea Phillips, Lily Spackman, Shian Chatfield, Beth Clarke tries, Chatfield 5 goals) defeated Cobar 20 (SarahMorley 2, Brianna Watson, Kayla Hasson tries, Watson 2 goals).

Half time Narromine 28 Cobar 8.

First Grade

Cobar 22 (Tim Hillam 2, Tadgh McMullen tries, Thomas Plater 5 goals) defeated Dunedoo 14 (Villiame Turuva 3 tries, Dan Lane goal). Half time 8 all.

Elimination finals played at Narromine on Sunday 20 August 2023.

Reserve Grade

Gilgandra 22 (Jarrod Fuller 2, Mitch Bamblett, Adam Hazelton tries, Shane Ritchie, Alex Sutherland, Gordon Sutherland goals) defeated Gulgong 20 (Tanida Raboldele 2, Brent Stuart tries, Lachie Henry 2 goals), in extra time.

League Tag

Baradine 24 (Hayley Lomax 2, Savannah Carey, Holly Woodham, Giann Worrell, Abby Thompson tries) defeated Coonamble 10 (Sam Turnbull, Temia Taylor

tries, Shakaye Walker goal).

First Grade

Narromine 50 (Aliferteti Joji 4, Washington Itoya 3, Darby Gordon, Will Olney tries, Doug Potter 7 goals) defeated Coonabarabran 20 (Dean Lewin 2, Tyler Frazer, Thomas Varty tries, Nick Willoughby 2 goals).

Next weekend

Saturday 26 August 2023 @ Gulgong

Major semi-finals with 11.30am kick off for reserve grade with other games tofollow straight on.

Reserve Grade

Baradine V Coonabarabran

League Tag

Dunedoo V Narromine

First Grade

Gulgong V Cobar

Sunday 27 August 2023 @ Dunedoo

Minor semi-finals with 11.30am kick off for reserve grade with other grades to follow straight on.

Reserve Grade.

Cobar V Gilgandra.

League Tag.

Cobar v Baradine.

First Grade

Dunedoo V Narromine