The Coonabarabran Unicorns remain unbeaten after they withstood a strong challenge from the visiting Gilgandra Panthers in the top of the table clash played on Saturday.
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The game opened with the Panthers dominating possession, and after centre George Alchin ran through a gap out wide to score after just two and half minutes, followed by winger Mitch Bamblett latching on to a well-placed kick only five minutes later, Gilgandra had raced away to a 12-nil lead.
Playing a long kicking game and constantly forcing the Panthers to bring it out from deep in their own territory the Unicorns slowly gained momentum and finally registered on the scoreboard.
Coonabarabran soon added to their tally when RJ Merritt scrambled over wide out and repeated the dose some ten minutes later to have the home side in front at half time 16-12.
The resumption of play saw a golden five minutes for the Unicorns with half Michael Watton slicing through to score followed up by a try to captain-coach Jarvis Watton in the corner, and it appeared that they were going to run away with the game leading 26 to 12 at that point.
Panthers were not going to lie down, and a barnstorming try to Michael Peachey with 22 minutes of play remaining bought the game back to life, and when hooker and captain-coach Jamie Towney pounced on a bouncing ball in goal it was most certainly a matter of game on.
It was indeed a grandstand finish, the game moving from end to end as the two arch-rivals fought for supremacy, throwing everything into their attack, but neither side could breach the others grim defence. The scoreboard didn't change until fulltime was signalled, and the Unicorns came away with the win which now sees them at the top of the competition ladder.
In a fiery game that saw two players sent off and four spending time in the bin, the Dunedoo Swans returned to the winner's list with a 36 to 26 win over the Binnaway Bombshells at Dunedoo. Captain-coach Don Dundas scored the final try, getting the Swans home, ably assisted by halfback Blake Taufa who scored two snappy tries.
The Bombshells were best served by half Seb Backhouse and second-rower Anthony Harris.
The Baradine Magpies registered their first win of the season when they downed Cobar 24 to 16 at Baradine, and in the remaining game, Gulgong ran roughshod over Coonamble taking the game 70 points to 10.
In league tag, the Gilgandra Pink Panthers remain undefeated after they registered a hard fought 22 to 14 win over Coonabarabran whilst Binnaway showed their potential when they drew 12 all with Dunedoo, Gulgong upset Coonamble 26 to 18 and Baradine continued their good form with a strong 32 to 12 victory over Cobar.