Footy finally returned to the field on Saturday as the Castlereagh League kicked off and it was the Gilgandra Panthers who caught the eye.
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Gilgandra registered a win in all three grades against the visiting Cobar, but all three were hard fought, with the Roosters putting up strong displays in their road trip.
The Youth League fixture set the scene for the rest of the day with the home side coming away with a 16-12 win.
The League Tag game was a thrilling affair with the lead swapping throughout the match and being locked up at 24-all as the minutes counted down.
It was to be a booming Shian Chatfield field goal with only seconds remaining that saw the Pink Panthers claim the two competition points.
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The first grade encounter opened up with a try to the Panthers in the second minute but it was to be the Roosters who dominated the first quarter of the game and they raced in three unanswered tries and were looking good with the scoreboard reading 16-6.
The tide turned when a Gilgandra 40/20 gave them great field position which was soon followed by the Roosters conceding a penalty close to their own line and their defence was not up to the task of denying the Panthers who duly scored a converted try, followed by a trio of rapid fire six pointers and they went to the break with a handy 30-16 lead.
It appeared Gilgandra might go on with the job after another try early in the second half proceedings, but the Roosters were not going to lay down and they came roaring back into the contest and in fact looked to be finishing the stronger but the Panthers went on to win 40-20.
At Dunedoo, the Swannettes got their season underway in impressive style when they ran out convincing 52-0 winners over the Binnaway Bombshells.
The Swans also managed a victory in the first grade match taking what was a gritty game 34-16
At Baradine the Magpiettes began their campaign for their third successive League Tag premiership against the visiting Coonamble Bearettes.
As per usual when these two teams clash there is not much in it, and that was the case again last Saturday with each side claiming one competition point after a 14-all draw was played out.
In this coming Saturday's second round the Coonamble Bears will come out of an extended off-season hibernation and host Dunedoo while at Binnaway the Bombshells will be looking towards a spirited home ground display against the Gilgandra Panthers and Cobar will be at home to Baradine.