Most of the large crowd in attendance at Gilgandra’s McGrane Oval left the ground wondering how the Panthers had snatched the thrilling win after they appeared to be heading towards certain defeat soon after the half-time break when the Terriers held a commanding 30-12 lead.

The Gulgong side was well on top at the break, with Gilgandra’s defence in no way replicating the fine effort it displayed in the major semi when the two teams met a fortnight ago.

The Terriers’ classy fullback Brad James was having little difficulty in puncturing the brittle Gilgandra defence and he wreaked havoc every time he had the ball in his hands.

James scored two of his team’s four first-half tries and boot all the conversions to have his side up 24-12 at the break.

The Panthers opened the scoring when their hard running front-rower James Dougan was able to cross the line early in proceedings for a 6-0 lead but then for the majority of the first half it was the Terriers who were well on top, only a determined effort by Panther’s captain-coach Jamie Towney resulted in him scoring late in the half to give his team some sense of hope as they went to the sheds.

Soon after the resumption of play the Terriers were in again to extend their lead to 18 points and seemingly had the game in the bag.

But the Panthers never-say-die attitude then produced an amazing and thrilling finish.

Aided by a strong breeze at their backs, Panther’s halfback Luke Ritchie began to take control of proceedings, both with the ball in his hands where he constantly was able to beat the first defender, and off his boot with some astute kicking.

The Terriers enjoyed little possession in the second half and they began to wilt as the Panthers came roaring back into the game, scoring three converted tries to lock the score up at 30-all with just minutes remaining

With Gilgandra supporters lifting the roof of the grandstand it was to be Ritchie who delivered the one-point win, and the premiership, when he slotted a field goal with just two minutes remaining.

Earlier the crowd had been warmed up by a highly entertaining and hard-fought league tag grand final played between Baradine and Coonamble.

The game was played at an intense pace, there really being very little between the two sides, with play going from one end to the other as the evenly matched sides went at it.

In the end it the defence was breached on only one occasion and that was to be a converted try to Baradine’s Kiara Hawkins, getting the Magpiettes home six points to nil, much to the jubilation of the many Baradine supporters in attendance.

The opening game of the day saw the red-hot favourites, the Coonabarabran Unicorns claim the Youth League premiership, but not before they were given an almighty scare by a gallant Gulgong side.

On the back of a strong second half effort the Unicorns won 30 points to nil after the sides went to the dressing sheds at half time locked up at 0-all.

Baradine’s talented young player Brandon Worrell was named as the Castlereagh Youth League Player of the Year for the second year in a row, whilst Coonamble’s Tori Canham was awarded the League Tag Player of the Year Award for an amazing fourth year, her name being the only one on the perpetual shield that was first awarded in 2015 when league tag was introduced to the Castlereagh League competition.

Gulgong’s Brad James was named the first-grade player of the year after another wonderful season.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to women’s rugby league in the Castlereagh and Barwon Darling region along with her involvement with the Western Rams sides and the Baradine club Angela Howe was deservedly named as the Volunteer of the Year.

YOUTH LEAGUE:

Coonabarabran Unicorns 30 (Jack Isedale, Dane Anastasis, Jackson Sulter, Nick Willoughby, Tyrone Walker, Matt Walton tries defeated Gulgong Bull Terrier Pups 0 (half-time 0-all)

Player of the match; Nick Willoughby (Coonabarabran halfback)

Youth League Player of the Year: Brandon Worrell (Baradine).

LEAGUE TAG:

Baradine 6 (Kiara Hawkins try; Maria Nagy goal) defeated Coonamble 0.

Player of the match; Kiara Hawkins (Baradine)

Player of the Year: Tori Canham (Coonamble)

FIRST GRADE:

Gilgandra 31 (Jamie Towney 2, James Dougan, Evan Ryan, Ned Kelly tries; Brandon Hammond 5 goals, Luke Ritchie field goal) defeated Gulgong 30 (Brad James 2, Jarvis Watton 2, Ben Thompson tries; James 5 goals)

Player of the match; Kieren Hazelton (Gilgandra second-rower)

Player of the Year; Brad James (Gulgong)

Christie and Hood Volunteer of the Year; Angela Howe (Baradine and Castlereagh League Women’s Rugby League).