The much anticipated Christie and Hood Castlereagh League Boronia Cup game between Gilgandra and Coonamble saw the highly valued silverware remain in Gilgandra after the home side registered a 34-20 win.
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Even though the game could not be described as scintillating viewing, it was still a solid battle between the two arch rivals in front of a very good crowd.
Both teams seemed intent on winning the battle in the middle, and the forward battle was quite intense at times, but it came at the expense of expansive attack, a facet of the game which is normally a key element to the Panthers style of play.
Whilst Gilgandra was never headed in the contest on two occasions the Bears were on equal terms on the scoreboard and at 14-all at half time the game was still well and truly in the balance.
Two tries to the Panthers in the opening minutes of the second half saw them shoot out to a 24 to 14 lead, but the Bears fired up again and with 20 minutes to go it was most certainly game on with the score at 24-20.
It was Gilgandra who finished the stronger of the two teams, scoring two converted tries in the final quarter of the match to take the points.
In other matches Coonabarabran played out a thrilling 30-all draw with Dunedoo, Baradine came from an 18-6 half-time deficit to beat Coolah 34-24, and Gulgong beat Trangie 34-22.
