Spectators at Gulgong were treated to a hard and fast game that went down to the wire before the Bears were able to claim the competition points and outright leadership on the BBCL ladder when they claimed the contest 32 points to 30.

Both teams scored six tries and in the end it was a lone goal that separated the two sides.

Coonamble’s five-eighth, Jeremy Thurston, caused no end of grief for the Terriers defence and he notched up four tries in a noteworthy display.

The Coolah Kangaroos broke through for their first win of the season when they proved to be too strong for the visiting Warren Bulldogs running out 32 to 18 victors.

At Dunedoo Coonabarabran’s half back, Jarvis Watton also touched down four times as well as slotting five goals for a personal tally of 26 points in his sides 34 to 8 defeat of the Swans

Meanwhile on a sodden Trangie ground the battle of the black and whites was played out with the home side Magpies hosting their Baradine counterparts.

On this occasion it was to be the southern Maggies that prevailed, their forwards taking control of the game in the second half to set up a 36 to 4 win, with Warwick McMaster being their best, working hard throughout the game, particularly in defence.

For the visitors Jake Collison lead by example in a young team that never gave up.

On the league tag front both Coonabarabran and Coonamble stayed as equal leaders on the BBCL competition ladder after registering wins over Dunedoo and Gulgong respectively, whilst Warren just managed to get the points at Coolah when they won a low scoring game 10 to 6.

In other news BBCL officials and players are somewhat disappointed in the fact that despite strong showings in both rugby league and league tag by the BBCL representative teams in the recent Western Rams trial games only Ashley Hazelton (Gilgandra) and Tori Canham (Coonamble) and Shay Naden (Gilgandra) were selected in the Western Rams representative teams that will contest the forthcoming Country Rugby League championships.

Coonamble 32 (Jeremy Thurston 4, Jack Kelly, Beau Ewers tries Jake Fernando 5 goals) defeated Gulgong 30 (Dion Hollow 2, Brad James, Thomas Reddish, Brendan Carter, Jakob Ringsing tries, James 4 goals)

Coolah 32 (Corey Latham. Chris Kearney, Wes Coe, Dylan Mathews tries, Brad Sheridan 6 goals) defeated Warren 18 (Matt Stephens 2, Laine Stephens tries, Johnny McKay)

Coonabarabran 34 (Jarvis Watton 4, PJ Stanton, Scott Watton tries, Jarvis Watton 5 goals) defeated Dunedoo 8 (Tyson Searle 2 tries)

Trangie 36 (Braden Carney 3, Corey Artery 2, Warwick McMaster, Shane Beatty tries, Carney 2, Artery, Aaron McMaster goals) defeated Baradine 4 (Corey Ross try)

Gilgandra bye

League Tag:

Coonabarabran 22 (Rebecca Pickette, Madalyn Baglee, Alicia Stanton, Rebecca Cass tries) defeated Dunedoo 0

Warren 10 (Sonya McMaster, Erin Wise tries, Karen Harris goal) defeated Coolah 6 (Breannan Carlyle try, goal)

Coonamble  36 (Tori Canham 3,Sam Turnbull 2, Katie Kelly, Kirbie Ewers tries, Canham 4 goals)  defeated Gulgong 8 ( Michelle Wilson 2 tries)

Gilgandra, Baradine bye