Coonamble hasbroguht Dunedoos unbeaten run to a halt. Bryson Luff has all the details of the second last round of the Castlereagh League. Bears blow competition wide open With just one competition round remaining the Coonamble Bears have blown the 2014 Castlereagh League competition wide open by becoming the first team to lower the colours of the Dunedoo Swans this year. The big crowd that was on hand to watch the contest played out at Coonamble were treated to a high quality game of rugby league with some excellent defence by both teams being the catalyst for a tense and exciting 80 minutes. It wasn’t until the 25th minute of the game that first points were registered when the home side was able to notch up a converted try, but then the Swans fought back to register two tries, both converted to hold down a 12 to 6 lead at the break. The Bears stormed out of the sheds and into the lead when they raced in two rapid fire tries just after the resumption of play to hold a two point advantage, leading 14 to 12 This was to remain the score for the bulk of the second half as the two sides ripped into one another, but breaches in either defensive line were hard to come by, and it wasn’t until there were less than ten minutes remaining on the clock that the Bears were able to penetrate the visitors defensive armour and they scored what was to be the match sealing try to take the game 20 to 12. Coonamble’s win came on the back of some outstanding defence, especially in the second stanza when they kept the potent Dunedoo attacking machine scoreless. The Swans will still claim the club’s first ever first grade minor premiership, but the loss should dispel any thoughts that the premiership was a done deal, and perhaps the loss may well be a blessing for green and whites as they approach the finals series. Conversely the win by the Bears would have given them great self belief that they are more than capable of matching it with any team in the competition. It has also given them a shot at a possible second place finish, or if that does not eventuate then they should enjoy the advantage of playing in the minor semi final on their turf. The Bears cannot be ousted from a semi final berth, but exactly what position is yet to be determined going into the final round. The team that is under the pump in terms of controlling their 2014 destiny is the Gulgong Terriers. The Terriers could have stitched up a semi final appointment had they been able to dispatch the visiting Warren Bulldogs at Billy Dunn Oval on Saturday. In fact it was to be the Bulldogs that won the Contest of the Canines, taking a high scoring game 40 points to 34. The visitors came out firing and raced to a 12 nil lead after just 15 minutes, but the Terriers clicked into gear with some great attack seemingly having them in a winning position at half time with the score board indicating that they were well in front at 28 to 12. That lead was increased to 34 to 12 soon after the resumption of play, but then possession, and momentum began to swing Warren’s way and they completely dominated the Gulgong defence to the degree where they piled on an incredible 28 unanswered points. The win keeps their semi final aspirations alive, at the same time propelling the Terriers into a do or die situation against the Coonabarabran Unicorns this Saturday. The Unicorns had little difficulty in brushing aside the Coolah Kangaroos in a game that saw 98 points scored; unfortunately for the Roos they registered only 14 of them. A win to the Unicorns will deliver them second position on the ladder, whilst a loss for the Terriers, and a win to the Warren Bulldogs over Coolah will see the Terriers forfeit their currently held fourth position on the ladder! The remaining game was played out at Gilgandra with the Panthers entertaining the Trangie Magpies in front of a very healthy crowd given the fact that the game had no bearing on the makeup of the final four. Whilst the home side took the game and the two competition points, much post match discussion centred around the extremely gutsy display put in by a depleted Magpie outfit that well and truly pushed the Panthers all the way, being just two points in arrears at half time at 18 to 16, and then still being in the game at 30 points to 22 with ten minutes remaining on the clock. Eventually the Panthers claimed the game 36 to 22 but the Maggies won high praise for their never say die attitude! In terms of the final competition round to be played this Saturday the match of the round will undoubtedly be the Boronia Cup game to be played at Coonabarabran between the Unicorns and the Gulgong Terriers which will have a huge influence on who finishes where on the competition ladder. Games at Coolah and Gilgandra will also have a bearing on the composition of the final four with the Kangaroos hosting Warren and the Panthers lining up against the Coonamble Bears Both travelling sides would be ill advised to take their opposition lightly as the Roos have pushed many a visiting team at Bowen Oval whilst the Panther’s current positioning on the competition table is not entirely reflective on just how competitive they have been in the vast majority of their games this year and they would like nothing better than to roll their arch rivals in front of their many loyal supporters in their final game for the season Dunedoo will host Trangie in the remaining game. Castlereagh League round 13 scores Coonamble 20 ( Jake Lane, Barry Murray, Mitch Smith, Troy Evans tries, Brad Pickering 2 goals) defeated Dunedoo 12 ( Troy Rose, Mitch Squires tries, Ben Bruce 2 goals) Warren 40 ( Marshal Williams 2, Daniel O’Hara, Aaron Willis, Anthony Fuller, Kane Smith, Earl Greenaway tries, Matt Stephens 6 goals) defeated Gulgong 34 ( Dion Hollow 2, Sam Rawlinson, Brad James, Luke O’Connell, Dan Woods tries, James 5 goals) Gilgandra 36 ( Owen Batten 2, Kasey Towney, Shaun Reynolds, Jamie Towney, AJ Young, Rory Milgate tries, Jamie Towney 2, Andrew Hammond, Max McAllister goals) defeated Trangie 22 ( Mikaira Skinner, Ethan Sheedy, Hayden Ellis, Troy Heterick tries, Sheedy 3 goals) Coonabarabran 84 ( Luke Stanton 4, Travis Smith 3, Kevin Hadfield 2, Luke Taylor, Scott Watton, Kyle Antaw, Michael Bacon, Dustin Crawley, Jack Ramage, Anthony Harris, Craig Harris tries, Michael Watton 4, Smith 3 goals) defeated Coolah 14 ( Trent Murrell, Kent Burgess tries, Burgess, Brad Sheridan, Jamie Sharpe goals) Competition table; Dunedoo 24 (+330), Coonabarabran 18 (+ 201), Coonamble 18 (+122), Gulgong 16 (+110), Warren 15 (+85), Gilgandra 9 (+23), Trangie 2 (-268), Coolah 2 (-603) Next week (Final round) Coonabarabran V Gulgong (Boronia Cup challenge game), Gilgandra V Coonamble, Dunedoo V Trangie, Coolah V Warren
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 11:36:20 +0000
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