It might not have been a win but the single point the Gilgandra Panthers left Cobar's Tom Knight Oval with on Saturday could prove invaluable in the race for the Castlereagh League minor premiership.
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The Panthers remain undefeated, albeit just, after six rounds of the competition and sit alone on top of the ladder after they scrambled to a 16-all draw with the Cobar Roosters in a grinding affair on Saturday.
Played in very wintery conditions the home side took a 10-6 lead to the break after their fullback Tim Hillam swivelled out of the grasp of would-be tacklers from dummyhalf to commence what was to be territoriality a big half for the home side.
It took until the 32nd minute before the Panthers were to register their first points, courtesy a try to classy second rower Alex Ronanye, and with Luke Ritchie raising the flags from the conversion it was 6-4.
The lead however was short lived with the Rooster's rangy centre Nathan McAndrew benefited from some good ball movement down the left flank and he plunged over out wide and then to the delight of the Roosters' crowd Jimmy Neyland nailed the sideline conversion to complete the first half scoring.
The Panthers came out of the sheds the better and crossed through livewire hooker Jamie Towney but a string of penalties soon had the visitors on the back foot.
The Roosters took the chance and second-rower Sione Fakahua crashed over and what turned out to be an important conversion followed.
But Towney crossed again to make it 16-all midway through the second half and despite plenty of willing effort from both sides there were no more points in the entertaining match.
The Roosters may have had to share the competition points in the first grade game but that was not the case in the earlier games with their Youth League side being too good for the Panthers, winning 48 to 10, while the Roosterettes avenged their one point loss to the Pink Panthers back in round one by taking out an entertaining League Tag game 30-26 after the visitors had lead 22-10 at half time.
Meanwhile at Binnaway, the Dunedoo Swans returned to the winners' list with a solid 40-10 win over the Bombshells in the first grade encounter, while the well drilled Swannettes confirmed their premiership favouritism with a 50-4 victory to remain undefeated.
In the other league tag game the Baradine Magpiettes climbed to second on the ladder when they downed Coonamble 12-4.
