Coach Jessica Skinner was proud of her team that played its way into the final after a stirring 12-4 win over Group 11 in their first game, a side drawn from a much bigger population base.

The win set up another David and Goliath battle for Castlereagh against Group 10, the perennial Western champions who haven’t lost a game in the five years League Tag has been contested.

The opening try to Coonamble’s Sheridan Lillyman, converted by Dunedoo Swannette Emma Gallagher, stunned Group 10 but they regrouped to make it 20-6 at half time.

They stretched it to 30-6, but Castlereagh didn’t go down without a fight Gallagher scoring the final try for a final score of 30-10.

Four Castlereagh players – Lillyman, Gallagher, Lauren Sullivan (Dunedoo), and Lisa Travis (Cobar) - were named in the Western Rams rep side to play the Country championships.

The Castlereagh League under 23 team were soundly defeated by their Woodbridge Cup opponents 58 to 24.

Despite showing patches of their potential the team put themselves under pressure by fundamental errors and giving away penalties.

Braden Carney, from Trangie, was the only Castlereagh player named in the Western Rams under 23 squad following the games.

Round 3 of the Christie and Hood Castlereagh League – played on Sunday – saw the Gulgong Terriers bounced back from their shock Round 2 loss by downing Coonamble 44 to 16 at Billy Dunn Oval.

Meanwhile in Dunedoo, the Swans proved too strong Baradine with a 44 to 24 win over a fast finishing Magpie outfit.

The Trangie Magpies made it back-to-back wins when they downed the Coolah Kangaroos 34 to 22 at Coolah.

Round 4 will kick off on Friday night at Dunedoo with the Swans having the opportunity to backup their solid Round 3 win when they host the in-form Trangie Magpies – in what is the match of the round with, League Tag to kick off at 7pm.

Saturday games will see Baradine host Coonabarabran, Coolah take to the road to Coonamble and Gilgandra will play Warren in league tag only at Gilgandra, Gulgong has the bye.