• PHOTO: BACK: Rodger Nalder, Mitch Nalder, Joshua Forgione, Jack Barrett, Brenton Glover, Barry Hamilton, Tyrell Leonard, Derek Robinson, Lewis Overall, Justin Mogg, Jye Dixon, Nathan Walker Snr, Jason Forgione FRONT: Adam Roworth, Tristan Draper, Kevin Thurston-Welsh, Benjamin Wallace, Coby, Jack Kelly, Jermaine, Nathan Walker Jnr, Luke Primmer and Paul Richter.
SPECTATORS were given a glimpse of what’s to come for the 2023 Christie & Hood Castlereagh League season, with the Mens preseason knockout on Saturday 15 April at the Dunedoo Sportsground.
All nine senior league teams were guaranteed two games with the exception of Binnaway who had a bye first round.
First round losers were vying for the repercharge crown.
Games were playing every 30 minutes, with 14 minute halves.
The Coonamble Bears travelled across with an 18 man squad.
Their first clash was against the hosts, Dunedoo Swans.
The Bears trailed early on with the much bigger Swans outfit crossing early in the first half for a try and leading 6-0.
Not long before half time the Bears got the opposition on the back foot through some good forward rounds setting up a slick backline movement to see a clever flick pass from Tyrell Kennedy to put Jye Dixon over to score out wide.
A missed conversion put the Bears behind by two, 6-4 leading into half time.
A tense second half saw some bruising defence from both teams until Mitch Nalder was able to break through the line to put Nathan Walker Jr under the posts.
Jack Kelly converted and shortly after kicked a penalty goal to make the final score 12-6.
The second game saw the bears take on an enthusiastic Narromine team.
With the wind behind their backs, the Jets were able to capitalise on bears mistakes scoring early to make the score 4-0.
In the second stanza it was to and fro from both teams until a clever mid field bomb from Kelly saw Derek Robinson taking it on the full to score under the posts for a 6-4 to the Bears.
Narromine were awarded a penalty shortly after to even the score, 6 all.
A penalty was received 30 out from the posts to see Nalder slot it over to give the bears a 2 point buffer with minutes remaining.
With the bears on the attack an intercept was taken with seconds to spare which Narromine took advantage of to score under the black dot, as the hooter sounded to steal the game 12-8.
Coach Nathan Walker was pleased with his team’s efforts throughout the day saying that everyone stood up and contributed.
Some great signs leading into the start of the 2023 season with Round 1 hosting the Cobar Roosters on the 6 May.
Cobar will head into the game with confidence as well after winning the knockout on the weekend.
Before Round 1 begins, the Ladies Leaguetag pre- season carnival which has just been named the Jess Skinner Cup, will take place this Saturday 22 April in Coonamble.
By THELMA LEONARD & NATHAN WALKER