In a high scoring game at Coonabarabran, the Coonamble Bears came away with a hard fought 46-28 win over the home side, while at Gulgong the Terriers ran out 50-12 victors over the Baradine Magpies.

In the other season-opener, Gilgandra Panthers ran over an undermanned Trangie outfit 66-0 – the Maggies cause certainly not helped by the non-arrival of a number of players, which resulted in a virtually non-existent bench, but those in attendance put in a plucky display against the reigning premiers.

The Dunedoo Swannettes came out all guns blazing in their league tag game against the winners of the recent Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Tag knockout, the Warren Bulldogs, registering a strong 24-0 win at Warren.

A four try effort to young Gilgandra Pink Panther Kaitlyn Brown went a long way to securing her team a win over Trangie, while Coonamble’s talented Tori Canham notched up three four-pointers as the Bearettes downed Coonabarabran.

In the remaining game, Baradine handled the long road trip to Gulgong to overcome the home side 26-10 and in youth league Gulgong and Baradine played out an exciting game with the Terriers just getting home 22-20.

Friday night footy will open round two of the Christie and Hood Castlereagh season with the Coonamble Bears hosting their traditional rivals, the Gilgandra Panthers, under lights at Bearstone Park, with the League Tag set to kick off at 6.30pm

These two sides always turn it on and the Bears will most certainly be seeking revenge  after the Panthers bundled them out of premiership contention last year with three wins in a row rapidly ending the black and red’s season

Attention then swings to Baradine on Saturday where there will be an exciting triple header of Youth League games before the Baradine Magpies take on the Coolah Kangaroos in senior league

The youth league games will see three Group 4 teams matched up against three Castlereagh League teams in what is an exciting innovation for these young players

The opening game will kick off at 10.30am with Baradine lining up against Gunnedah, followed by Gilgandra taking on Tamworth Collegians then North Tamworth and Gulgong locking horns

Saturday will also see the Trangie Magpies at home to Gulgong and Dunedoo will be having their first outing for the season when they host Coonabarabran in what should be a close tussle

League tag

Dunedoo 24 (Lauren Sullivan 2, Brianna Smith, Kylee Callow, Emma Gallagher tries, Gallagher 2 goals) defeated Warren 0

Baradine 26 (Stephanie Bowling, Tammie Gardiner, Kira Gardiner, Haylee Dunn, Kasee Gardiner tries, Caroline Purdy 2, Lauren Green goals) defeated Gulgong 10 (Chloe Pennell, Lolly Tumpey tries, Karla Hopa goal)

Gilgandra 32 (Kaitlyn Brown 4, Trista Raines, Samantha Hazelton, Sheryn Baird tries, Shian Chatfield 2 goals) defeated Trangie 16 (Sam Hamilton 2, Keiarra Hannaford tries, Lakeisha Hull 2 goals)

Coonamble 28 (Tori Canham 3, Sam Turnbull, Jessica Canham tries, Tori Canham 4 goals) defeated Coonabarabran 8 ( Hallee Watts, Belle Smith tries)

Youth League

Gulgong 22 (Will Hawkins 2, Aiden Everingham, Jason Ballard tries, Zac Warwicker 3 goals) defeated Baradine 20 ( Tyrone Biles 2, Brandon Worrell 2 tries, Lane Hawkins 2 goals)

Senior rugby league

Gulgong 50 ( Brad James 2, Kyle Alexander 2,Harry May 2, Jake Griffiths, Dobbie Dowton,Dave Morrison tries, James 7 goals  defeated Baradine 12 (Travis Houghton 2 tries Ash Churchland 2 goals)

Coonamble 46 (Derek Robinson, Lloyd Kennedy ,Beau Ewers, Jake Fernando, Adam Cohen, Joey Goldsmith, Nathan Thurston, tries Fernando 7 goals) defeated Coonabarabran 28 (Peter Watton 2, Scott Watton, Jarvis Watton, Luke Michael tries, Jarvis Watton 4 goals)

Gilgandra 66 ( Adam Hazelton 2, Ray Buchanan 2, Josh Nixon, Evan Ryan, Brandon Hammond, Luke Ritchie, RJ Merritt, Curtis Carr, Tom Stonestreet tries, Hammond 8, Ritchie 2 goals) defeated Trangie 0

Friday 7th April

Coonamble V Gilgandra (league tag kicks off at 6.30pm)

Saturday 8th April

Youth League triple header at Baradine

Baradine v Gunnedah (10.30am), Tamworth Collegians V Gilgandra (11.45am)

North Tamworth V Gulgong (1.00pm) followed by Baradine V Coolah in senior league

Trangie V Gulgong @ Trangie

Dunedoo V Coonabarabran @ Dunedoo